APS Stress Management Policy

STRESS MANAGEMENT POLICY

from HSE Health & Safety Model Policy

Introduction

At Ashurst CE Aided Primary School we are committed to protecting the health safety and welfare of all employees.  We recognise that workplace stress is a health and safety issue and acknowledge the importance of identifying and reducing workplace stressors.

This policy will apply to all who work within the Ashurst CE Aided Primary School environment.  Responsibility for implementation is with the Headteacher for providing the necessary resources.

Definition of Stress

The Health & Safety Executive define stress as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure, or other types of demand placed on them”.  This makes an important distinction between pressure, which can be a positive state if managed correctly, and stress which can be detrimental to health.

Policy

• Ashurst CE Aided Primary School will identify all workplace stressors and conduct risk assessments to eliminate stress or control the risks from stress. These risks will be regularly reviewed.

• We will consult with WSCC HR representatives and/or outside agencies, where appropriate, on all proposed action relating to the prevention of workplace stress.

• We will seek to provide training for all managers and supervisory staff in good management practices.

•  We will seek to provide confidential counselling for staff affected by stress caused by either work or external factors.

•  We will seek to provide adequate resources to enable managers to implement the school’s agreed stress management strategy.

Responsibilities

Managers

• Conduct and implement recommendations of risk assessments within their jurisdiction.
• Ensure good communication between management and staff, particularly where there are organisational and procedural changes.
• Ensure staff are fully trained to discharge their duties.
• Ensure staff are provided with meaningful developmental opportunities
• Monitor workloads to ensure that people are not overloaded.
• Monitor working hours and overtime to ensure staff are not overworking
• Monitor holidays to ensure that staff are taking their full entitlement.
• Attend training as requested in good management practice and health & safety.
• Ensure that bullying and harassment is not tolerated within their jurisdiction.
• Be vigilant and offer additional support to a member of staff who is experiencing stress outside work e.g. bereavement and separation.

Occupational health and safety will provide:

For Staff:

• Provide specialist advice and awareness training on stress.
• Train and support managers in implementing stress risk assessments.
• Support individuals who have been off sick with stress and advise them and their management on a planned return to work.
• Refer to workplace counsellors or specialist agencies as required.
• Monito and review the effectiveness of measures to reduce stress.
• Inform the employer and the Health and Safety committee of any changes and developments in the field of stress at work.

For Management:

• Ensure guidance is available to managers on the stress policy.
• Help monitor the effectiveness of measures to address stress by collating sickness absence statistics.
• Advise managers and individuals on training requirements.
• Provide continuing support to managers and individuals in a changing environment and encourage referral to occupational workplace counsellors where appropriate.

For Employees:

• Raise issues of concern with your safety representative, line manager or occupational health.
• Accept opportunities to counselling when recommended.

Safety Representatives

• Safety representatives must be meaningfully consulted on any changes to work practises or work design that precipitate stress.
• Safety representatives must be able to consult with members on the issue of stress including conducting workplace surveys.
• Safety representatives must be meaningfully involved in the risk assessment process.
• Safety representatives should be allowed access to collective and anonymous data from HR.
• Safety representatives should be provided with paid time away from normal duties to attend any training relating to workplace stress,
• Safety representatives should conduct joint inspections of the workplace at least termly to ensure that environmental stressors are properly controlled.

The Governing Body

• Ashurst Primary School Governors will ensure that this policy is implemented
• Ashurst Governors will oversee monitoring of the efficiency of the policy and other measures to reduce stress and promote workplace health and safety.

Signed by:   Mr T Sheldon                                   Date: October 2025

Chair of Governors