Local authorities in east and central Scotland have vowed to support teachers suffering from stress after the publication of figures that showed significant numbers of staff needed time off due to the condition.
Dundee City and Angus councils have offered assistance including counselling to teachers feeling the burden of their job after figures showed that 122 missed work in the past year.
The data, obtained by the Liberal Democrats after a freedom of information request, showed that around 1400 teachers nationwide required time off. Dundee accounted for 60 (4% of its workforce), and Angus accounted for 62 (5.1%).
Dundee education convener Liz Fordyce yesterday insisted measures were in place to help teachers struggling with work-related issues.
She said, “Our absence figures for teachers are coming down.
“We have always offered support and counselling for teachers, and they are encouraged to seek help and speak to colleagues in the department. We try to do everything we can to get support for teachers who are suffering from stress.
“These teachers also do not have to stay off as there are people who can support them at work.”
Angus Council also said staff would be supported if they came forward with stress-related problems.ProactiveA statement said, “Angus Council proactively manages sickness absence and has a specific policy for managing stress at work.
“It is not possible to generalise on the causes of stress-related illness as people experience stress for a wide variety of reasons, not necessarily related to the workplace.
“We aim to provide an environment in which stress can be acknowledged, discussed and dealt with openly, and have robust policies on absence management and stress management.
“We also provide a wide range of services to employees requiring guidance and/or specific support to those employees who are experiencing workplace or personal stress.
“Last year, the council’s education department launched a health and wellbeing policy, which was developed by a working group which included staff from primary and secondary schools.
“The aim of the policy is to embed ‘wellbeing’ into the culture of educational establishments and to give guidance on supporting staff who may be suffering from stress.”
Meanwhile, in Fife, council officials were delighted with figures showing just 1.9% of the workforce had been absent through stress.
Although the actual number was higher than Dundee and Angus, at 70, Bryan Kirkcaldy, head of education, believes work done in co-operation with trade unions was benefiting staff.
Having adopted a questionnaire strategy that allows all school staff- not just teachers-to provide feedback into the region’s behaviour and discipline policy, there are high hopes this figure can be reduced further.
Mr Kirkcaldy said, “The thing is having an impact, and the trade unions are supportive and pleased with what we’ve done.”
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtest of Flickr user stuartpilbrow.