Absences, Health and Resilience

 

Hi all

I just wanted to share with you the importance of communicating absences and reiterate the procedure for absence reporting among the full time/pre service trainees you are supporting. 

I know this is news from last year but it does shed a harrowing light on why we need to have joined up communication between us. 

https://inews.co.uk/news/education/my-brother-took-his-own-life-but-his-university-didnt-even-know-he-was-absent-things-must-change-1889629

Absence Procedure (this is directly from the Course Handbook which is available on the Mentor Information Centre)

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University Days

The days at university will be varied and contain key lectures, seminars and workshops for which attendance is mandatory. If you are unwell and therefore unable to attend you must email Jo.Elliott@port.ac.uk before 8.00am, and complete an absence GoogleForm. 

Placement Days

The days on placement are to be attended in full, as a general rule you are expected to attend 8.30am – 4.30pm, however you may wish to observe or deliver an evening class and therefore with negotiation with your subject mentor and university tutor alter your time of attendance. It should be noted that any alterations cannot result in you missing any university days.

If you are unwell and therefore unable to attend your placement you must contact your subject mentor and professional mentor in accordance with your college policy. 

You should also email jo.elliott@port.ac.uk before 8.00am and complete an absence GoogleForm. 

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I do ask that the trainees self report to the google form hyperlinked in above. They also should follow your own college protocol for absence. They also should tell me of EVERY absence via email whether this be placement or university.

I also then ask that you input any placement absences into the trainees PDR and they will put uni absences in also (as below). Use the side bar or scroll to TP1 End of Module Professional Review to find this.

If you have any concerns about the physical or mental health of your trainee, please let me know ASAP. Similarly, if they have not reported an absence to you, please let me know urgently. I would hope that if they have not reported an absence to you, you all would get in touch and your own safeguarding/welfare procedures would happen. But, based on the report above, this isn't always the case which is deeply distressing. 

Topics for this week

The trainees have sessions this week on Pupil and staff physical and mental well-being, and Resilience and Mental Health.  They also need to be focusing on handing in their first essay, identifying a case study for their next assignment and booking in their first joint observation. 

Could you please:

• Discuss the impact of physical and mental well being and the resilience requirements of teaching 
• Share with your trainee how you cope when things become overwhelming
• Ask how they are doing with their submission for Thursday
• Check whether they have decided on their topic for their next assignment 
• Work together to plan a date and time for the first joint observation. 

As ever, let me know if you need anything. Take care. 

Jo