SM4U

At St Mary's, we have six EDI Staff Networks. Our networks are here to offer support, opportunities to meet colleagues across SMU, and to offer events or activities to staff. Find out more about our networks.

Webinar: Helping you help your team: Reducing the emotional load for managers

Join Health Hero’s panel of experts on Wednesday 30th October 2024 from 10am - 10:45am for an interactive session exploring the role managers play in employees' mental health, to give attendees confidence and assurance in this critical area of management.

 During the session, you'll get insights on:

• Why manager support is so powerful and impactful when it comes to employee mental health
• How an EAP can reduce the mental burden on managers
• What happens when someone calls an EAP helpline
• How a typical counselling session works.

 Find out more and sign up via the Health Hero website. 

 In other SM4U news:

Browse through our course catalogues, including Leadership and Management, Technical and Data Skills, Workplace Conduct and Ethics and Your Wellbeing. Each catalogue has a suite of courses for you to explore at your own pace.

We are delighted to announce our annual SM4U event returns on Wednesday 16th October, from 10am to 3.30pm in The 1850. 

The event provides an opportunity for all staff to engage with our networks and social groups, explore wellbeing initiatives, and learn about staff benefits and career development opportunities. You’ll have chance to ask SLT and UEC your questions, with members available throughout the day.

 Presentations are open to all staff. We encourage you to register your interest so we can ensure adequate seating.

• 10:30am – 11:15am - A Day in the Life of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Anthony McClaran
• 11:30am – 12:15pm - The History of Our Campus, Prof. Peter Tyler
• 12:30pm – 1:15pm - Men's Mental Health, Andy’s Man Club
• 1:45pm – 2:30pm - Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), Health Hero

 New location, new stalls, new talks and, of course, new goodies!

In other SM4U news…

•  SMILE did you know… the Chief Information Officer will be running sessions on staff guidance on the safe use of AI, which you can book onto using SMILE.
• L&PD and CTESS are running Mentoring Training workshops for all staff who wish to become an SMU mentor. Book onto the next session using SMILE.
• The Purchase of Additional Leave Scheme gives you the opportunity to manage your personal commitments in a planned way by allowing the cost to additional leave to be spread over 10 months for the 2024/25 Annual Leave year. Learn more about purchasing additional leave. 
• World Suicide Prevention Day was on the 10th September 2024. We have created a catalogue of courses on SMILE to learn about supporting someone who is suffering with suicidal thoughts, coping with suicidal thoughts and the warning signs of suicide.

Become a Mediator: Expressions of Interest Now Open!

We’re excited to announce an opportunity for staff to become mediators! If you are passionate about helping colleagues navigate conflicts and build more cohesive working relationships, this is your chance to make a difference. 

What you'll gain by becoming a mediator

This is an opportunity to contribute positively to our workplace culture while also enhancing your professional development. You will gain unique insights into interpersonal dynamics and develop a wide range of skills that you can apply in various aspects of your career.

 What does mediation involve?

As a mediator, you will be a neutral third party, helping disputing parties negotiate and reach a mutually agreed-upon resolution by conducting a structured mediation process.

 This is a voluntary role, and you will be required to participate in Mediation Training prior to becoming a mediator.

 How to Apply

To express your interest, please complete the Mediation Expression of Interest form and submit your completed application to learninganddevelopment@stmarys.ac.uk.

SMILE: Did you know…

 Please be advised that all staff must complete their 6 Essential Training lessons by 31st July 2024.

 These lessons are available on SMILE under the 'Courses I Have to Do' tab.

Managers can view their direct reports' progress under the 'My Team' tab. 

Completing this training is crucial to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and equips you with essential knowledge and skills to perform your duties effectively and safely. 

If you have received a notification to complete the Essential Training course and believe that you have already fulfilled this requirement, please contact the Learning and People Development team at learninganddevelopment@stmarys.ac.uk. 

In other SM4U news…

 SM4U is coming again soon… keep 16 October free in your diaries!

 Our Staff Engagement score has risen by 3 points from last year! View more highlights from the Staff Pulse Survey on the dedicated webpage.

 Appraisal Training is available for all staff and managers to improve your confidence and proficiency of the appraisal process. Staff and managers can book your place on SMILE.

SMILE: Did you know…

Financial wellbeing sessions are now on SMILE

In other SM4U news…

1. SLT and UEC appraisals will be attached to their ESS profiles from 15th May for completion at the beginning of July.
2. All other staff will have their appraisals attached from 1st July for completion by 31st August

Staff Pulse Survey is now open! 

This year’s Staff Pulse Survey (SPS) has officially been launched and will remain open until 22nd May 2024!

The SPS, a follow-up to last year’s Engagement Survey, will give you an opportunity to not only tell us what has improved since last year, but provide insight into what more matters to you. 

This will be a shorter survey, with only 15 questions, taking no longer than 10 minutes to complete and all responses are completely confidential. 

 How do I complete the survey? 

You’ll receive an email from People Insight with the subject line ‘The Staff Pulse Survey is now open!' The email contains a unique link. Click the link and complete the survey.

 Attend our drop-in session and complete the survey:

• Monday 20th May | 12pm-2pm | The Refectory

Why should I complete the survey?

Several actions have taken place as a result of last year’s Staff Engagement Survey, illustrating the fact that your voice matters and is essential in ensuring a positive employee experience at St Mary’s. 

 A tree will be donated for every survey completed. This is done in partnership with the Eden Reforestation Project.

 For more information on the SPS visit the dedicated webpage or email learninganddevelopment@stmarys.ac.uk. 

In other SM4U news...

• SMILE: Did you know… you can add your own learning onto SMILE, under the ‘Add my Learning’ tab? This is great for keeping a central record of all conferences, external courses and other CPD activities, which you can easily showcase during your yearly appraisal.
• Important Dates: Manager’s Induction, 22nd May 9am-2.30pm. Book on SMILE
• As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting our staff’s wellbeing, we are excited to introduce initiatives aimed at enhancing financial wellness within our workplace. More details available in our news article.

Staff Pulse Survey Less than One Month Away!

Following the Staff Engagement Survey (SES) in March 2023, we will soon be launching our Staff Pulse Survey (SPS).

In 2023, 70% of staff completed the SES and we saw our engagement score rise to 72%, which is in line with other Higher Education Institutions.We have heard your feedback and made efforts towards improvement in key areas including leadership and communication, reward and career development, and EDI.

To get a sense of how you feel we are progressing against the central and local action plans that were created in response to your feedback, we are conducting a Pulse Survey.

This year’s follow-up Pulse Survey will only take around 10 minutes to complete, and will give you an opportunity to not only tell us what has improved, but also provide insights into other areas of importance to you. This is a chance to really make a difference and ensure a positive employee experience, where we can give our best every day.

• Survey opens: 8th May 2024
• Survey closes: 22nd May 2024

For more information on the SPS, hear more from our HR Director in this video, or visit the Staff Pulse Survey webpage.

In other SM4U news...

• April 2024 saw significant changes to employment law which affect University HR policies. Updates to Flexible Working, Paternity/Partner Leave policies, and a new Carer’s Leave policy now align with the legislation and University's commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. More details are available in the dedicated news article.
• Explore our new Health Care Cash Plan scheme with Medicash.
• SMILE: Did You Know... that there has been over 1800 lesson completions by staff within the first two months of the launch of SMILE, with the most popular course being Essential Digital Skills - Digital Communication. Check it out on SMILE!

We're delighted to announce the completion of 1424 lessons through SMILE, with 448 individual log-ins within the first month!

Our SLT members embraced the challenge striving for the highest completion rates of essential training modules in their respective areas. Well done to Jo Blunden and the central operations team for securing the trophy! Further details available on the SMILE webpage.

HR were the only team achieving 100% completion of at least one essential learning course on SMILE. In the spirit of fairness, we've drawn six winners from everyone who completed all six essential learning lessons. We are pleased to announce the following winners:

• Violeta Kotsevska - Estates and Campus Services
• Matthew Dell - School of Education
• Righteous Mbemba - Estates and Campus Services
• Mark Fry - Estates and Campus Services
• Jade Salim - School of Sport, Exercise and Applied Sciences
• Jacob Johanssen - School of Business and Communication.

In other SM4U news...

• In February, we celebrated LGBT+ History Month with an incredible range of events and activities organised by the LGBTQ+ Staff Network! During our Flag Raising Ceremony, we proudly raised £164.45 for Switchboard. The University was buzzing with vibrant representation throughout the month. Check out the fantastic roundup of the month's celebrations!
• The Women’s Staff Network pulled out all the stops last week to celebrate International Women’s Day! From a rejuvenating free yoga session to an inspiring female stories and book workshop with SMU Library, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Explore the Women’s Staff Network webpage for a full rundown of their incredible IWD celebrations and discover how you can get involved!
• We will soon be launching our Staff Pulse Survey where staff are given an opportunity to provide feedback around what improvements have been made since the last Engagement Survey, and what further changes you would like to see.

Last week was National Apprenticeships Week (5th-11th February). An apprenticeship provides the opportunity to work within a job role while studying at the same time.
 

As the VC has highlighted in his open message, since the Staff Engagement Survey last year, the university has made a number of changes to enhance your experience of working at St Mary's. Within HR, we’ve introduced new benefits, such as a free slice of cake on your birthday, as well as additional staff development opportunities such as staff apprenticeships, demonstrating our commitment to your wellbeing and growth.
 

We now offer four Apprenticeships, designed to teach you the required knowledge, skills and behaviours to excel within your chosen career pathway:

• Level 3 Team Leader
• Level 5 Departmental/Operations Manager
• Level 5 Coaching
• Level 7 Senior Leader.

We currently have 24 staff members of varying grades across various departments throughout the University undertaking one of our new Apprenticeship programmes. To mark NAW we caught up with three of them to find out the transformative impact of the apprenticeship journey.

In other SM4U news...

• Explore the LGBTQ+ Staff Network page for upcoming LGBT+ History Month events throughout February, and the Women’s Staff Network page for information on the International Women’s Day events between 4-8th March.
• SMILE is now LIVE! Please ensure you have completed your essential training by 31st July 2024.

As we bid farewell to 2023 and step into January, the "January Blues" may cast a subtle shadow on our spirits. Fear not, St. Mary's is here to brighten your days with a burst of positivity and wellbeing.

Introducing our Beat the Blues poster, featuring quick wins to help uplift your mood! From focusing on gratitude to a quick stroll at lunchtime, these simple yet effective strategies are designed with your wellbeing in mind.

But that's not all! Bookmark the newly launched SM4U webpage, highlighting our range of staff benefits, with a dedicated tab for Beating the January Blues. We will be updating this page throughout January with content from Sport St Mary’s and healthy recipes from the Refectory.

Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), HealthHero, is available to all staff at SMU. The EAP service offers many services over the phone and online, including free and confidential access to telephone and face to face counselling, debt counselling, legal guidance, and health and wellbeing support. HealthHero is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and all calls are confidential. You can view this video which gives an overview of the services available through HealthHero.

Visit the SM4U webpage for a full spectrum of resources that promise to make your 2024 a year of self-care and positivity.

Here's to a happy and healthy new year!

In other SM4U news...

• The SMILE lunch is inching closer, book onto a live demo to learn about our new Learning Management System.
• Visit the newly-launched Family Friendly Hub, with easy access to policies, guidance, and resources.

Introducing: Your St Mary’s Integrated Learning 

St Mary’s new Learning Management System, SMILE, for all staff, will soon be launching in January 2024.

SMILE will serve as the online learning platform for staff, allowing them to complete eLearning courses, book onto (virtual and in-person) training sessions, record any learning completed (internally or externally), and engage in further knowledge sharing.
 
We are hosting live online demonstrations of SMILE leading up to its launch, and post-launch. All staff are encouraged to sign up.
 
Pre-launch Demos are on:
•    Thursday 18th January at 2-3pm
•    Tuesday 23th January at 10-11am.

Post-launch Demo:
•    Tuesday 30th January at 11am-12pm.

In other SM4U news…

The holiday season can be a stressful time for many, with increased workloads, money concerns, and gloomy weather. Your EAP, Health Hero, can be an avenue of support during this ‘festive season stress’. See this news article for how they can help.

The International Day for Persons with Disabilities was on 3rd December 2023, the St Mary's Disability Staff Network have created a poster with some staff testimonials, quick wins for colleagues, and some further resources which our members have found useful, to help build awareness, and to continue to contribute to a more inclusive community.

Thank you for joining us for SM4U on 18th October 2023 in the Waldegrave Drawing Room. The event featured 17 stalls representing various aspects of University staff life, including staff networks, benefits, and wellbeing. There were also various talks and presentations covering a range of topics which were recorded, and can be viewed online. The event, prompted by the Staff Engagement Survey, aimed to provide staff with insights into the resources available whilst an employee at St Mary’s.

With 188 attendees, the event provided a platform for staff to explore the offerings and engage with different aspects of the university. The Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Staff Networks, in particular, saw 87 sign-ups during the event, indicating a noteworthy interest in promoting EDI among staff members.

Participants expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to connect with colleagues from diverse university departments. One attendee mentioned, "I was delighted that I met people from different areas of the University". Staff representation from various University departments and faculties emphasised the inclusivity of the event - there was something for everyone.

Following feedback from the event, we will be hosting further SM4U talks, presentations, workshops, and more throughout the year, continuing to showcase how St Mary’s supports you.

We'll be running the SM4U event next year, so add 16th October 2024 to your diary!

Our annual SM4U staff event returned on Wednesday 16th October, from 10am to 3.30pm in The 1850. The event provided an opportunity for all staff to engage with our networks and social groups, explore wellbeing initiatives, and learn about staff benefits and career development opportunities. 

The Staff Engagement Survey told us you wanted to find out more about what St Mary’s has to offer staff, including our benefits, staff networks and groups and other opportunities for personal and professional development. To address this, we decided to run a marketplace-style event, in the form of SM4U. We had 17 stalls, showcasing all the benefits we offer to staff during their career with us. We had representation from the six EDI Staff Networks, the Chaplaincy, Short Courses, HR, Family Friendly Hub, Mental Health First Aiders, Wellbeing, Costco, Sport St Mary's, staff apprenticeships, and the SMU Library. We hope you discovered everything you needed and that the day was a success!

If you were not able to attend, or didn’t have a chance to sign up to one of our EDI Staff Networks, please fill out our Join an EDI Network survey.

This year, throughout January, we will be sharing some of our employee benefits and self-help tips which are in place to support you to help you to Beat the Blues.