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WeST continues to support staff wellbeing and is pleased to offer staff access to flu jab vaccinations this autumn.

We have partnered with Boots pharmacy to deliver a limited number of flu vaccinations to staff who do not already meet the NHS free vaccine eligibility. We encourage all staff to take up the offer of a flu jab via one of these pathways.

Path 1: NHS free flu jab

Available to:

· people aged 50 years old or over (including those who will be 50 years old by 31 March 2023)

· have certain health conditions

· are pregnant

· receive a carer's allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick

· live with someone who is more likely to get a severe infection due to a weakened immune system

· are in long-stay residential care

· are frontline health workers

· are social care workers

More information on the importance of getting a flu vaccination & eligibility is available from NHS Free Flu Jab Eligibility

Path 2: WeST Flu Jab Voucher for Boots

Available if:

· You are NOT eligible for NHS Free Flu Jab

Vouchers can be sent directly to you via email or text message. 

Vouchers are provided at no cost to staff members.

Vouchers are redeemable at any participating Boots Pharmacy, click here for details: Store Locator

To request a voucher please visit: Request Form. 

 

Free Wellbeing Webinar Sessions!

WeST are continuing to work alongside Able Futures to support staff wellbeing and are pleased to bring details of new free webinar sessions. Please click the following links to register your interest. If you are unable to access the live session, the registered participants will be provided with a recording of the information.

Its completely confidential to you as WeST will not be informed of any participant details.

We hope you find these sessions of interest and value as part of our ongoing commitment to developing a culture of wellbeing at work. Details of other resources are available on the staff portal.

Work Life Balance

Monday 10 October – 2PM – 3PM

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4439526012100820240?source=will

Stress In The Workplace

Monday 14 November – 2PM – 3PM

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3682731059191190028?source=will

Feeling Better This Festive Season

Monday 5 December – 2PM – 3PM

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7137493350686773260?source=will

Estates Summer Projects

Following on the theme of Estates projects. Please see below the positive impact this project has had. 

Over the summer, Hele’s had a much-needed uplift to the front façade which involved the replacement of the post 1945 original windows, and a high-pressure steam clean of the stone work.

Funds from the WeST Estates Schools Capital Allocation (SCA) budget was used for this capital project. The old box wood sash windows were removed and then replaced with a modern UPVC box sash, complete with the georgian bar, to ensure the façade maintained its original grand appearance. On completion of these works, a full high pressure steam clean of all the stone work and painting of the Juliet balcony and down pipes was undertaken, removing the years of dirt which returned the façade to its former glory. The whole project cost £22,000 and was delivered on time for the new term.

The new PVC windows has helped to reduce heat loss in the winter during the heating season and also reduces heat gain into the building in the summer as these windows are south facing, so are in direct sunlight. The maintenance is also reduced in that there is no regular painting of the frame required. 

More to follow next week. 

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A big thank you to all of you who completed our recent Starter Experience Survey

We would like to thank all of you who commenced a new role with the Trust recently and took the time to feedback to us how the Trust was doing with its recruitment and selection process. Your feedback will help us in our efforts to continually improve the recruitment experience of all our potential new starters.

There were many positives, some of which we can share with you now. 

  • We asked you to rate how straightforward you found the application process for your new post. You gave the application process an average score of 4.60 stars out of 5.
  • 95.83% of you received an invite to interview less than 2 weeks after the advert close date.
  • We asked you to rate your invite to the selection process and any subsequent communications in relation to it. You gave us an average score of 4.60 stars out of 5 for this.
  • We asked you to think about your pre-employment checks and to rate us on how we did with these in terms of communication, efficiency and helpfulness (with 1 star = poor and 5 stars = excellent).  You gave us an average score of 4.60 stars out of 5 for this.
  • We asked you to rate your experience of working for the Trust so far (with 1 star = poor and 5 stars = excellent). You gave us an average score of 4.38 stars.
  • We asked you how clear the presentation of information was during your first few days (with 1 star = very unclear and 5 stars = very clear). You gave us an average score of 4.21 stars.
  • We asked you how well you understand how your job supports the Trust's Vision, Values and Beliefs (with 1 star = not well at all and 5 stars = extremely well). You gave us an average score of 4.31 stars.

There are also some areas that you identified where we could do better:

  • We asked you to look back to before you started with us and assess how we did in terms of getting you what your needed to prepare you for your first few days (with 1 star = you did not have what you needed and 5 stars = you had everything that you needed). You gave us an average score of 3.98 stars and we would like to do better.
  • Only 79.16% of you felt that you were presented with about the right amount of information when you started. Better then on the last survey but this could be further improved.
  • 6.25% of you reported that you did not have an induction for your new role or that it was not relevant. A further 18.75% of you reported that your induction was only partially relevant to your new role. This feedback is better than the last survey but given how highly the vast majority of you value a good induction we want to aim towards this being zero.

We really appreciate your suggestions around this. The full results are being analysed and will be used to improve the candidate experience of our recruitment and selection process moving forward. Thank you for your time and input.

Anna Freud Centre: DfE Mental Health Lead grants
 
Last week, we shared a reminder that grants of £1,200 are available from the Department for Senior Mental Health Lead training.
 
Our Strategic Partner, the Anna Freud Centre, is delivering a DfE-assured and CPD-accredited two-day training course, co-developed by expert clinicians and teachers to ensuring a learning experience that is evidence-informed and practical. The training will give Senior Mental Health Leads the knowledge and skills to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.
 
The training fee is £800, leaving funding available towards supply cover and materials. To find out more and book a fully funded place, click here.

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Recruitment update:

We are delighted to inform you of the following exciting career opportunities within our Trust:- 

Callington Community College are looking to fill the following vacancies:

Teaching Assistant - This could involve facilitating student’s emotional regulation; working with those on the autistic spectrum or supporting students with low levels of Literacy and Numeracy to access the secondary curriculum. Closing date: Friday 14 October 2022. 

Reading tutor - You will be a hard-working individual; with high expectations and an unwavering determination to get the best outcomes for students. Closing date: Friday 14 October 2022. 

1:1 Teaching Assistant - The role involves supporting an individual student on a 1:1 basis. This could involve facilitating student’s emotional regulation; working with those on the autistic spectrum or supporting students with low levels of Literacy and Numeracy to access the secondary curriculum. Closing date: Friday 14 October 2022.

For more information on the above vacancies, please go here. 

Coombe Dean School are looking to appoint an enthusiastic Teacher of French and Spanish. The successful candidate will be a hard working individual, passionate about MFL, and a Teacher with high expectations and an unwavering determination to get the best outcomes for students. For more information, please go here. Closing date: 16 October 2022. 

Eggbuckland Community College are looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Temporary Teaching Assistant - SEND Base - Required from November 2022, or as soon as possible. The role also includes working with individual students or small groups of students with special needs, preparation and maintenance of resources and whole college duties such as break time supervision. Closing date: 8am, Monday 31 October 2022. 

Temporary Teaching Assistant – Learning Support - Required from November 2022, or as soon as possible. This role will provide support with their SEND students with accessing learning in the classroom, under the direction of a teacher, and leading small groups or individual interventions. The role also includes preparation and maintenance of resources and whole college duties such as break time supervision. Closing date: 8am, Monday 31 October 2022. 

For more information on the above vacancies, please go here. 

Ivybridge Community College are looking to fill the following vacancies:

Website and Marketing Coordinator - The Website and Marketing Coordinator will assist with the smooth operation of the College by providing a professional, proactive and comprehensive support service to the PA to the Principal and Operations Manager where applicable. Closing date: 9am on Friday 14 October 2022.

Casual Examinations Invigilator - Hours of work are by negotiation, to cover examination sessions throughout the year. The ability to work at least three days a week during the peak times in May and June. Full day, morning (start 8.30am) and afternoon sessions are offered. Closing date: 9am on Monday 10 October 2022. 

Senior Casual Examinations Invigilator - The post will support the Examinations Officer in coordinating/managing the team of invigilators and within defined parameters, take the lead in main examination rooms. Closing date: 9am on Monday 10 October 2022. 

Administrator - The Administrator will provide a high standard of secretarial and administrative support to assist with the smooth operation of the organisation. In addition to the normal range of secretarial skills, a high standard of general education will be required, together with good IT skills. Closing date: 9am on Friday 14 October 2022.

For more information on the above vacancies, please go here. 

Westcountry Schools Trust is seeking to appoint two exceptional individuals with vision, energy and inspirational leadership to the position of Deputy Head Teacher at Plymstock School. The new Deputy Head Teachers of Plymstock School will lead the school through its next phase of development and improvement. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity since the conditions for further improvement are securely established. For more information, please go here. Closing date: 9.00am on Friday 14 October 2022.

Westcountry Schools Trust is seeking to appoint an HR Administrator to support the HR provision of The Learning Institute and Arena Sports Partnership. The HR Administrator will be working in a fast-paced environment undertaking the full range of contractual administrative and payroll/pension-related tasks. For more information, please go here. Closing date: noon on Monday 10 October 2022.