‘We've got to nurture each other'
So says Rachel Nicholls, CEO of Inspire Education Group (IEG), an organisation dedicated to providing further education. 'It's not as simple as waving a magic wand,' she adds. 'We try to employ a whole range of different strategies and mechanisms to support people with their wellbeing, their welfare and their mental health.'
While every business today will declare staff are its greatest asset, IEG is walking the walk. And with good reason, since its 1,300-strong workforce is responsible for the education and wellbeing of some 11,000 diverse students across colleges in Lincolnshire, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire. So what are the secrets to championing wellbeing at work?
People first
'As leaders, we really focus on how we create the right environment so people can thrive,' she says. 'Our people turn plans into reality and deliver for the communities we serve, and they need to feel valued, empowered and have the space to take risks.'
Whatever it is IEG is doing, it's working. Staff across all levels were commended by Ofsted in March for their passionate commitment to the wellbeing of students, and in 2023 they were commended by the Association of Colleges (AOC Beacon Awards 2024/24) for their commitment to the wellbeing and mental health of staff and students.
'It's really important to look at what staff genuinely need and what will genuinely help,' says Sarah Young, IEG's vice principal, student and staff experience, who chairs the mental health and wellbeing group within the organisation.
How do they do it? By prioritising the creation of a thriving workforce and spelling out their caring values. Individuals know they can ask for help when times are tough – personal upsets can spill over into professional lives, and simple acts of kindness among colleagues can be transformative. 'Since the pandemic there's been a blurring of lines between work and home,' says Nicholls, 'another reason why welfare is so important.'
Nurturing employees and giving them space to voice worries is something that leading HR, payroll and finance provider MHR enables with dedicated technology – if staff don't thrive, a company will lose valuable talent. Its People First platform helps everybody, from employees to people managers and HR teams, find the best opportunities to suit individuals and offers well-designed feedback loops to connect employees, all of which helps support wellbeing.
Embedding wellbeing
Setting the tone from the top down is also critical, says Nicholls, and IEG has signed up to the AOC's mental health charter and reinforces these values through leadership training.
'It's really important that we talk about that from the word go,' she says, pointing to the fact that new managers are specifically trained in recognising the importance of mental health and wellbeing when they join the company. ''Let's look out for each other and be kind' is a really important part of our communication,' she adds.
Mental health champions work across IEG's campuses. 'They are trained to listen and to help signpost staff to a range of support,' says Young. There are also pop-up cafes – with tea and cake – where staff can have open conversations. And each year, the company dedicates a day of its development week to wellbeing, featuring activities based on the NHS's Five Ways to Wellbeing guidelines for good mental health.
Some initiatives at IEG have come from staff themselves – there's a cancer support group formed after employees affected by the disease welcomed a space where they could talk and support each other. Another group supports women with menopause and endometriosis. And IEG seeks to be a menopause-friendly employer. 'It's really important to look at what staff genuinely need and how we can support them,' says Nicholls.
From big to small
One of the most popular initiatives is a tech-enabled 'high five' on IEG's digital wellbeing platform, which allows staff to recognise and thank colleagues – which can include anything from helping with a troublesome task to receipt of good feedback from parents. 'It's just that act of kindness and its ripple effect that's so lovely,' says Young. 'It's essential for fostering a supportive community.'
Colleague recognition matters in healthy organisations. Using MHR's People First platform, staff can recognise good work and share success stories with ease. As well as celebrating each other, managers can use the software to set individual goals and enable employees to see the impact of their work.
IEG also offers free activities for staff – this term it's yoga and badminton – and round-the-clock advice and counselling. All students and staff across the colleges are invited to enjoy a free breakfast. 'We firmly believe that coming together with colleagues before the day starts has such benefits,' says Sarah Young.
If this culture spreads beyond the confines of IEG's colleges, the entire sector will benefit, and there are a host of organisations doing some great things within further education, says Nicholls – and this offers hope for the future. 'Let's just do more of it, let's learn from each other. The humanity that we show as individuals in the organisation is so important…we have to nurture and value each other.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Coventry children's home and more close over hotel assault report
An operator of privately-run children's homes has closed all five of its sites after Ofsted found a child was sexually assaulted by men at a hotel while living at one of the Care ran five homes in areas including Birmingham, Coventry and Coventry facility was inspected by Ofsted in May and rated as "inadequate" overall, with inspectors uncovering "serious failures".Dimensions Care said it had decided permanent closure and voluntary de-registration was the "most appropriate way forward". The company previously said it accepted Ofsted's findings and had acted "quickly and robustly" to improve care, including removing the senior operational a statement issued on Thursday, Dimensions Care revealed it had applied to Ofsted to cancel its registration as a provider of social care."These decisions have been extremely difficult to make, and they are outcomes that we've worked hard to avoid," the statement said."Disappointingly and sadly for everyone involved, there was a decline in our previous 'good' Ofsted-graded standards, which should not have happened."Having completed an internal investigation and after continuing to collaborate with Ofsted, we determined that the permanent closure of our homes and our voluntary de-registration is the most appropriate way forward."Dimensions Care said it was working with local authorities to find alternative places of care for four children from across three of its homes. Children from the other two homes had already been placed with alternative registered providers of BBC has sought clarification over the broad locations beyond Birmingham, Coventry and Telford, and whether there are multiple homes within one or more of those places. 'Chaotic' The Coventry home was inspected on 12 and 13 May 2025, when four children were living there, with inspectors saying "serious and widespread failures" meant residents were not report said leadership and management at the home failed "to keep children safe" and there were "immediate risks" to the well-being of found there were "several incidents" of children harming themselves and described how two children had "regular missing-from-home episodes", and had been subject to sexual one occasion, Ofsted reported, two children left the home late at night and travelled to Birmingham and then to Coventry to access nightclubs."On their return to the home the following morning, one child disclosed that they had been taken to a hotel by adult males and were subject to a sexual assault and possible ingestion of drugs unknowingly," the report said."The support for these two children following this disclosure was poor."Inspectors said there was also "significant damage" around the home, including broken door frames, torn flooring, graffiti and overgrown nettles in the children at the facility said they had enjoyed certain relationships with staff, Ofsted added, but they also described the home as "poorly run and chaotic".One child told inspectors: "We have no rules and boundaries. We run rings around them and do what we want."Even when I went missing last night, returned intoxicated and fell asleep on the stairs, no one has addressed this with me, and they never will," they added. In response, a spokesperson for Coventry City Council said last month the authority took the safety and well-being of children in care "extremely seriously"."We have robust arrangements in place to ensure provisions, where our children are placed, are regularly monitored and we respond swiftly to any concerns raised," they said."There are a number of private children's homes in Coventry which are not run by the local authority and have children placed in from various authorities." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Times
6 hours ago
- Times
Teenage girl left alone on mental health ward was killed unlawfully
A coroner and jurors had tears in their eyes as they ruled that a teenage girl was killed unlawfully after she was left alone on a mental health ward by an agency worker using a fake name on his first shift. Ruth Szymankiewicz, 14, was meant to be under strict observation at the psychiatric intensive care unit of Huntercombe Hospital in Berkshire while being treated for a severe eating disorder when she was left on her own by the worker on February 12, 2022. The inquest had heard that the agency worker, who went by the name of Ebo Acheampong, had applied for the role under a false name and had never worked in a psychiatric hospital, the police later discovered. He never returned to work after the teenager's death and fled the UK for Ghana. Ian Wade KC, the coroner, and the jurors were clearly upset when they delivered the conclusion of unlawful killing at the inquest at Buckinghamshire coroner's court in Beaconsfield. Addressing Ruth's parents, Mark and Kate Szymankiewicz, Wade said with tears in his eyes: 'I hope you will treasure all the good memories of your lovely daughter.' The inquest had been told that she shut herself in her bedroom, where she self-harmed. She died two days later at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Jurors were told that the ward was missing at least half of its staff on the day Ruth was left unsupervised. Acheampong was asked to join the intensive care psychiatrist team because they were so short-staffed that nurses could not go on breaks. Michelle Hancey, a support worker with 18 years' experience at Huntercombe, raised concerns that day that the team would 'fail to monitor patients on prescribed special observation because of staff shortage'. Acheampong was assigned to watch over Ruth on his first shift at the hospital. He repeatedly left the girl alone while she was watching TV, one time for a couple of minutes, which prompted her to walk alone to her bedroom. She had been on an observation plan which meant that she had to be kept within eyesight at all times after earlier incidents of self-harm. About 15 minutes passed before a nurse discovered the teenage girl and raised the alarm. 'Ruth was not prevented from accessing the restricted material which could be used to self-harm,' the jury foreman told the hearing. 'Ruth was not prevented from accessing harmful material on the internet. Ruth's care pathway … was insufficient to allow improvement for discharge. 'From Ruth's admission to Thames ward, her responsible clinician deemed the ward to be neither suitable nor conducive to her recovery. Ruth's parents were not given adequate information about the appeal process, and refusal rights.' Ruth's parents, who are both doctors, read an emotional statement outside the court after the verdict. They said: 'There is an empty space at our table, a silent bedroom in our home, a gaping hole in our family that will never be filled … Ruth was an incredible, bright, friendly, loving and adventurous girl with a whole life of joy ahead of her. 'When, at our most vulnerable as a family, we reached out for help, we ultimately found ourselves trapped in a system that was meant to care for her, to help her, to keep her safe, but instead locked her away and harmed her.' Huntercombe Hospital was rated 'overall inadequate' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in February 2021, and has since been closed.
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
‘Systemic failures' led to unlawful death of girl at mental health unit
The parents of a teenage girl who died after being left alone at a children's mental health ward by an agency worker using a fake ID have said 'systemic failures' led to her unlawful death. Ruth Szymankiewicz was being treated for an eating disorder at Huntercombe Hospital in Berkshire and had been placed under strict one-to-one observation when on February 12 2022, she was left on her own by the member of staff responsible for watching her. The 14-year-old was able to shut herself in her bedroom at the hospital's psychiatric intensive care unit – also known as Thames ward – where she self-harmed. She died two days later at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. On Thursday, an inquest jury sitting at Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court in Beaconsfield returned a conclusion of unlawful killing. Speaking outside the court after the hearing, Mark and Kate Szymankiewicz said: 'When, at our most vulnerable as a family, we reached out for help; we ultimately found ourselves trapped in a system that was meant to care for her, to help her, to keep her safe, but instead locked her away and harmed her. 'Having been detained in a unit she should never have been sent to, Ruth was repeatedly denied access to the love and support of her family. 'We were excluded and completely disempowered. She was isolated, scared and alone.' Mark, a consultant surgeon, and Kate, a GP, added: 'Over the last two weeks, we have heard about the numerous systemic failures at Huntercombe Hospital. 'Ruth was our daughter. But she could just as easily be your child, your niece or nephew, your grandchild. 'We hope that by sharing her story it can help inform the change needed in children's mental health services.' During the conclusion hearing on Thursday, the jury foreman told the court: 'Ruth was not prevented from accessing the restricted material which could be used to self-harm.' 'Ruth was not prevented from accessing harmful material on the internet. 'Ruth's care pathway… was insufficient to allow improvement for discharge. 'From Ruth's admission to Thames ward, her responsible clinician deemed the ward to be neither suitable nor conducive to her recovery. 'Ruth's parents were not given adequate information about the appeal process, and refusal rights.' Jurors could be seen crying as they recorded their conclusion, as well as the coroner and members of the family. The agency worker responsible for watching Ruth – a man then known as Ebo Acheampong – had never worked in a psychiatric hospital environment before coming to Huntercombe on February 12 2022 for his first shift. A police investigation later found he was hired by the Platinum agency – which supplied staff for Huntercombe Hospital – under a false name. Mr Acheampong never returned to work at the hospital following the incident and fled the UK for Ghana. The court heard the ward was missing at least half of its staff on the day Ruth, who had self harmed several times in the past, was left unsupervised. Mr Acheampong was originally working on a different ward, but was asked to join the team on Thames ward because they were so short-staffed nurses could not go on breaks, jurors were previously told. A risk management form known as a 'Datix incident' had been filed on the day by Michelle Hancey – a support worker with 18 years' experience at Huntercombe – who raised concerns the Thames ward team would 'fail to monitor patients on prescribed special observation because of staff shortage'. During the inquest, jurors were shown CCTV footage of the moment Mr Acheampong left Ruth unsupervised while she sat in the ward's lounge watching TV, enabling her to leave the room. She had been placed on the 'level three observation' plan following earlier incidents of self-harm – meaning she had to be kept within eyesight at all times. In the footage, Mr Acheampong can be seen leaving the room repeatedly – at first only for seconds at a time, then for two minutes – prompting the teenager to walk up to the door and look into the lobby, seemingly waiting for the opportunity to leave the room. She was last captured on CCTV walking out of the ward's day room 'completely on her own' before going straight to her bedroom and closing the door behind her, coroner Ian Wade KC told the inquest. Around 15 minutes passed before a nurse discovered the teenage girl and raised the alarm. Huntercombe Hospital had been inspected twice by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) prior to the incident, the inquest previously heard. It was rated as 'overall inadequate' in a CQC report dated February 2021. Active Care Group, which owned Huntercombe at the time of Ruth's death, has since closed the facility. Following the inquest, a spokesperson said: 'We extend our heartfelt condolences to Ruth's family, friends, and all those affected by her passing. 'We deeply regret the tragic event that occurred, and we are truly sorry for the distress this has caused and recognise the profound impact it has had on everyone who knew her. 'In recent years, we have made significant improvements to the quality and safety in all of our services. 'We remain fully committed to working closely with our teams across the country to ensure consistently high standards of care for the individuals we support. 'We are dedicated to learning any further lessons through both this inquest process and others from across the NHS and Independent sector with the aim of preventing any future tragic incidents.'
