DSAT Well-Being


‘The meaning and satisfaction that individuals get from their work’ 
Why is staff well-being important to us as a Trust? 
 
  • Supports DSAT’s Improvement Mission and Growth Strategy
  • Ensures our commitment to staff physical and mental well-being is embedded into culture  
  • Our Trust is an employer of choice – recruitment and retention 
  • Employee survey highlighted improvement areas - well-being and workload 
  • Supports our vision and values 


Following the 2021 Employee Survey, the Trust People Director created a staff well-being team made up of volunteers from across all schools at all levels, with the aim of developing a staff well-being strategy – ensuring we have a culture where school leaders prioritise well-being. The aims of this group are;
 

  • To follow up on the results of the Employee Survey 2020; well being and work-life balance ​
  • To promote well-being as a DSAT priority; develop a DSAT well-being strategy​
  • To consider well-being programmes; support, employee assistance​
  • To develop a DSAT well-being charter with a whole school approach
  • The group has meets regularly throughout the year and is a forum to share best practice in people wellbeing across the Trust and for staff to input into further developments, such as the DSAT Well-Being charter. 
     

The Trust accesses free training through Timewise, the DfE’s partner in flexible working in the education sector. This is available for school leaders and governors with the aim of addressing the pressures of recruitment. The DSAT Strategic Plan to grow to 20 schools by the end of 2023. 

In addition, DSAT is part of the Doncaster Opportunity Area project work which is a funded offer for School Health and Wellbeing including MHFA training, Supervision for Heads and Leaders and coaching of staff in schools on Well-being and work-life balance. We are able to access this support within our Doncaster schools and scale up to all our other DSAT schools. We have over 20 fully trained Mental Health First Aiders within DSAT (accredited through MHFA England).

​The Trust currently has access to the employee assistance helpline and resources through the Education Support Partnership. The People Director raises awareness of support available through staff communication.  

​The Trust People Director supports and advises leaders on working time regulations, adequate breaks, and reminders of STPCD requirements regarding working time. INSET days are often disaggregated to enable twilight sessions for CPD and also some remote CPD sessions take place. In addition, DSAT has offered, in partnership with Vision for Education, free pizzas for all staff in schools during CPD or at staff briefings as part of a well-being offer.

DSAT Mental Health First Aiders
DSAT Central Team Nevine Towers, Alison Bradley
Travis St. Lawrence Philippa Cousins
Kilnhurst St. Thomas Victoria Sherwood
St. Oswald's Academy Sharon Patton, Clare Furniss, Claire Buckley, Sarah Lindley, Laura Slack, Judith Archer
Rossington St. Michael's Susan Norton, Matthew Walkler, Sally Atherton
Canon Popham Caroline Barratt, Jackie Shelton
DSAT Well-Being Charter 2023