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Faculty of Philosophy

 

The information and links on this page have been gathered together to provide  staff with a one-stop-shop for all matters concerned with welfare.

This is in addition to the University pages for staff well-being here: https://www.wellbeing.admin.cam.ac.uk/

On this page staff will find information on the following topics:

When to Refer is a guide for student-facing staff in departments. It contains advice about helping undergraduate and postgraduate students access the right pastoral support at the right time.

When to Refer and other resources for supporting students

 

Wellbeing at the Philosophy Faculty

The Faculty has always been keen to support wellbeing activities, especially those that encourage people to take a break from their desk and come together, and is always interested to hear of suggestions for such activities from both students and staff. In the past, the Philosophy Library has run 'Philosotea' sessions, where students and staff were able to come together for tea and cake, and to take a break from work. It is hoped to re-start such sessions online shortly. The have previously organised Well-Being walks, which were open to both students and staff, and would welcome ideas on well-being events which could be organised during the pandemic.

University Counselling Service

As well as the Counselling Service available for students, a separate counselling service is available for staff. The Staff Counselling Centre is available free of charge to all staff who hold a University contract of employment: academic, academic-related, assistant, research and technical. The Staff Counselling Centre is run by qualified and accredited therapists who are highly experienced, working within a range of theoretical modalities and used to working with people from different backgrounds and cultures and with a wide variety of issues. Information about the staff counselling service is available here.

The counselling service for staff is located at 2-3 Bene't Place, Lensfield Road.

 

Occupational Health

Occupational Health (OH) aims to complement the University's academic reputation by providing a service that promotes and preserves both the physical and mental wellbeing of all staff.

Working alongside  colleagues in the Safety Office OH assist in ensuring that the work environment is safe and that a person's health is not adversely affected by their work activities. This is reflected in their mission statement which is 'to prevent ill health and promote health amongst University staff '.

The occupational health team comprises of a small team of occupational health specialist doctors and nurses and administrative personnel who:

  • devise preventative strategies for identifying and controlling hazards to health arising from work
  • advise on fitness for work, vocational placement, return to work after illness, ill health retirement, work-related illness and the control of occupational hazards
  • assist in fulfilling statutory (e.g. health surveillance) and regulatory requirements (e.g. guidance on food safety, the application of the Equality Act) to ensure that the health of staff and others is not adversely affected by their work
  • ensure that work health issues are appropriately managed
  • promote health and wellbeing at work

Occupational Health offers a wide range of services aimed at reducing ill health at work and supporting those at work with health problems and disabilities. For further information please see their service information leaflet

Referrals to OH may be initiated either by a member of staff (self-referral) or with their consent, by the Faculty Administrator (management referral). Once a referral form has been received the individual will be contacted within four working days and an appointment usually arranged within 21 working days.

 

Menopause Guidance

 Some women find menopause symptoms affect their wellbeing and capacity to work.  It is important to remember that menopause is a natural and temporary stage in a women’s life and simple and supportive steps by family, friends and colleagues in the workplace can be hugely helpful to women who find they are struggling to cope with the symptoms.  Medical help may also be required. The University has provided guidance for individuals here, for managers here, and further sources of support here.

 

Dignity @ Work

There is no place for any form of harassment, victimisation or sexual misconduct at Cambridge. Such behaviour is contrary to the values and ideals of our shared community, subverts the University's mission and core values and diminishes the dignity and integrity of all parties.

Dignity @ Work policy

A network of Dignity @ Work contacts provide confidential advice to those who feel that they are experiencing difficult working relationships, including bullying or harassment. If you would like to talk confidentially to a Dignity @ Work contact, you should call (7)65031 which is a confidential voice-mail number where you leave your name and contact details and someone will get back to you. Or you can email dignitycontacts@admin.cam.ac.uk with your name and contact details.

 

Equality and diversity

The Faculty’s adviser on racial and sexual harassment is currently Professor Rae Langton, and anyone with concerns on such matters is invited to consult her.The Faculty’s Athena Swan Academic Lead & Gender Champion is currently Dr Angela Breitenbach, and anyone with concerns on these matters is invited to consult her. Details of University-wide Equality & Diversity champions are here.

Equality & Diversity at Cambridge

 

Disability Resource Centre

The Disability Resource Centre (DRC) is the University's disability service, and provides a confidential and accessible service for disabled students and those staff supporting them. It is therefore an important resource for student-facing staff to be aware of. The DRC supports individuals with any disability, medical matter or injury, including those with:

  • Specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia, dyspraxia)
  • Physical/mobility impairments (including people who are wheelchair users, Upper Limb Disorder - also known as RSI)
  • Sensory impairments (including hearing loss, visual impairment)
  • Mental health conditions (including depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder)
  • Long-standing illnesses/health conditions (including cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV, diabetes, epilepsy)
  • Asperger syndrome and autism

The DRC can provide confidential information and support, study skills tuition and mentoring, assessment for dyslexia, the loan of specialist equipment and assistance with funding applications. The DRC can also work with students, their college and their department to help ensure that students have effective support for their studies and to help students apply for Exam Access Arrangements. More information about all these issues can be found on the DRC's website.

 

Preventing harassment and sexual misconduct

The Faculty of Philosophy endorses the University's campaign 'Breaking the Silence – Cambridge speaks out against sexual misconduct' which draws together all aspects of collegiate Cambridge's work on prevention, reporting and supporting in regard to harassment and sexual misconduct affecting both staff and students. The campaign has launched a website drawing together all relevant information into one central resource:

Breaking the Silence

The Faculty's activities to tackle harassment and sexual misconduct focus on:

  • fostering a zero-tolerance culture free from coercive behaviour, harassment and sexual misconduct;
  • providing support and guidance to members of the Faculty in relation to harassment and misconduct;
  • handling in an exemplary manner allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct between students and students, and students and employees.

Staff may find it useful to attend a University run course on 'How to be an Active Bystander at work'. This course includes simple changes and actions you can take to support others around you without confrontation and, over time, support a more inclusive environment for all of us to live and work in.

University statement

Code of conduct

 

University sexual harassment and assault advisor

A new role of Sexual Harassment and Assault Advisor has been created within the University Counselling Service to provide specialist advice and support to anyone who has experienced sexual harassment or assault. This advisor will also be able to provide information about the internal and external support and reporting routes.

 

Whistleblowing policy

The purpose of the whistleblowing policy is to provide a means by which staff are enabled to raise concerns with the appropriate University authorities if they have reasonable grounds for believing serious malpractice has occurred or is likely to occur. In many cases it will be appropriate for the member of staff to raise any concerns informally with their line manager in the first instance, either in person or in writing. It may be possible to agree a way of resolving the concern quickly and effectively.

However, where the matter is more serious, or the member of staff feels that their line manager has not addressed the concern, or they prefer not to follow that informal step for any reason, they should contact the Academic Secretary (phone: (3)32260; email: academic.secretary@admin.cam.ac.uk).

Whistleblowing policy