Staff
- Report + Support: Report + Support is an online safe space reporting tool where students, learners, staff and visitors can report incidences of bullying or harassment anonymously or with contact details. More FAQ’s are available.
- Line Manager: Your line manager will be available for you to seek advice and help with resolving the unwanted behaviour or concerns you are experiencing.
- People Services: People Services are available to discuss your concerns with before deciding what action to take.
- Use people-hub@open.ac.uk or 01908 (5)41111 to seek support.
- Trade Union Representative: A trade union representative (TUR) is a union member who represents and gives advice to colleagues when they have concerns that relate to work.Here at The OU there are a number of TURs who are available for employees to reach out to. You will normally need to be a member of the union that you contact to access assistance.
- UNISON - unison@open.ac.uk
- UCU - ucu@open.ac.uk or on 01908 6(53069)
- Mediation: People Services have a small team of qualified mediators who may be able to support individuals to resolve interpersonal issues at work.
- You can ask for mediation yourself. Before proceeding the mediator will explain what is involved, make sure that all parties are willing to proceed on a voluntary basis and establish that the issues are appropriate for mediation.
- More information is available.
- Employee Assistance Programme: Our Employee Assistance Programme is provided by Health Assured and is a free and confidential service for you and your family. The EAP offers podcasts, videos, factsheets, guides and a dedicated 24hr confidential helpline.
- Staff Networks: We have eight staff networks at the OU who provide safe and welcoming spaces for colleagues who share similar experiences or identities, often supporting those from underrepresented groups who may otherwise feel isolated.
- To learn more, please feel free to connect with any of the networks that interest you.
- OU Wellbeing App: OU Wellbeing App is an app that provides you with the tools to start building healthy, positive habits into your everyday life you can build your own tailored self-care programme, access podcasts, articles and wellbeing tools.
- You can download the OU Wellbeing App on iOS or Google Play and register using your work email.
- SHOUT: SHOUT is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope and needs immediate support. Just TEXT the word OU to 85258 (please do not use Whatsapp).
- Shout’s text message support service is anonymous and available 24/7. The service is available to anyone in the UK and it won’t show up on your phone bill. Trained volunteers can help with issues including anxiety, abuse, loneliness, self-harm and suicide, they are there for you 24/7 to listen and support you to get to a calmer and safer place.
- Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs): MHFAs are able to help a person who is exhibiting signs of developing a mental issue; experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health issue; or who is in a mental health crisis and requires some level of intervention. They have attended and passed a Mental Health First Aid training course, delivered by an accredited Mental Health First Aid Instructor.
- MHFAs are available to anyone across the University as people may prefer to speak to someone outside their own unit.
- Wellbeing pages: There are various resources across the University you can access to obtain further support on improving your wellbeing.
- There are various OpenLearn online courses to support you with stress awareness, understanding anxiety, mindfulness, understanding mental health in the workplace and understanding stress.
- EDI Hub: The EDI Learning Hub acts as a central platform and a starting point for individual research, where you can expand your understanding of a wide range of EDI topics. This hub serves as a valuable tool in your journey to becoming more inclusive colleagues and practising allyship.