How to run a working group to improve staff wellbeing

Get advice on how to set up and run a working group to improve staff wellbeing and workload in your school.

Last reviewed on 3 March 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 41944
Contents
  1. A working group will help you get regular, honest feedback from staff
  2. Recruit a diverse range of people to form your group
  3. To start, build up your knowledge of best practice
  4. Encourage open conversation about the issues staff are dealing with
  5. Lots of ideas? Stay focused on solutions that will work for your school
  6. Communicate your progress to show that you're 'walking the talk'
  7. Starting a group is just one piece of the puzzle – what you can do next

This article was written with the support of Jo Glossop, assistant headteacher at Hardenhuish School in Wiltshire. 

A working group will help you get regular, honest feedback from staff

Setting up a staff wellbeing working group will help you:

  • Give staff time and space to reflect on issues that affect them
  • Get regular, open and honest feedback from staff - often, there are issues that can't be effectively communicated through a survey but require a bigger conversation
  • Demonstrate to staff that you take their thoughts and opinions seriously 
  • Commit to providing practical and tangible solutions to problems
  • Implement new initiatives that are based on best practice

You're ready to make staff wellbeing a top priority for your school, and follow through on your commitment A member of your senior leadership team (SLT) has the capacity to run the group You're able to include group members' termly meetings in their directed time - this will help you make sure group membership

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