Health and Wellbeing
The health and wellbeing of clergy are essential to effective and sustainable ministry. Here you can find more information and practical guidance on a range of topics to help support your wellbeing.
There are a range of services and support options for clergy, further information is available here: Supporting Clergy - Diocese of Leeds
Employee Assistance Programme
The Diocese of Leeds Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is provided by Health Assured. The EAP offer a range of wellbeing services that are available to colleagues, clergy, and their family and offer a structured way to work through physical or mental health issues and financial difficulties.
Through our EAP you can access:
- 24/7 confidential helpline for emotional support, as well as legal, financial, and medical advice.
- Up to 10 structured counselling sessions per issue
- 24/7 access to an online GP (Livi) with same-day appointments often available, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
- Occupational health support helping to provide timely advice and support
- Coaching support for clergy, including leadership and wellbeing coaching.
- Financial coaching through Munny to support financial decisions such as pension and retirement planning.
- Specialist support services including enhanced menopause support.
- Access to the Wisdom app and online portal offering wellbeing resources, tools, and guidance.
For more information about how to access the EAP, or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the People Team.
Menopause Care and Support
We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and able to thrive at every stage of life. Menopause is a life transition that many people experience, and it can also affect those around them - colleagues, partners, friends, and family. Everyone’s experience is unique; it can vary widely and is shaped by factors such as gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, neurodiversity, health, and stage of life. Recognising and respecting these differences helps ensure that everyone feels seen, understood, supported and valued.
We have dedicated Clergy Perimenopause and Menopause Guidance, which you can access here.
Through our EAP service, colleagues and clergy can access a specialist Menopause Care Service, giving them access to dedicated counselling and guidance aimed at effectively managing symptoms and navigating aspects of the menopause journey.
You may also find the following sources helpful:
Training
- Menopause Awareness Training - We have developed a short introductory e-learning course aimed at providing helpful information and guidance on supporting colleagues. You can access the course here: Menopause Awareness: Supporting Colleagues in the Workplace
- NHS Menopause Awareness Workplace Training – a short online course suitable for anyone wanting to learn more about the menopause, how the menopause can impact work and typical symptoms experienced. Please note you may need to create log in details to access this training. Please use this link to access the course: Menopause Awareness Workplace Training
Further Guidance
- Wellbeing of Women’s Menopause Information Hub - packed with health information, tips and support for managing the menopause at home and work. Find the Menopause Information Hub here.
- Over the Bloody Moon – free menopause awareness and support resources including checklists for speaking to your GP, symptom trackers, and information videos - https://overthebloodymoon.com/resources/free-resources
- The Menopause Charity- for information and resources - https://themenopausecharity.org/
- The Daisy Network - a charity that supports those experiencing Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) - https://daisynetwork.org/
Guidelines on Lone Working and Personal Safety for Clergy
Introduction
Clergy may find themselves working alone for several hours of their working day – this may be less if there is a parish office out of which they work, or more if they operate entirely from home.
Clergy working alone will of course face the same risks in their work as others doing similar tasks. However, the work of clergy does carry additional risks and it is important that these are fully understood and that sensible precautions and adequate arrangements are made to ensure they are as safe as possible.
Potential hazards of lone working
There are a number of areas where risks may be greater when working alone:
- Accidents or sudden illness when there is no-one to summon help or first aid.
- Violence or the threat of violence.
- Allegations of inappropriate and/or abusive behaviour.
- Fire or other threat.
- Attempting tasks which cannot safely be done by one person alone, e.g. heavy lifting, or use of certain equipment.
- Lack of safe way in or out of a building (e.g. danger of being accidentally locked in).
Assessing the risks of lone working
The perception of what is a risk and the actual risk itself may be seen differently by individuals. For example, an inexperienced curate may underestimate the risks of an activity; some clergy, especially those in urban parishes may feel particularly vulnerable to violence after dark; or a medical condition may make it unsafe for an individual to work alone.
Clergy should consider these factors and assess the particular risks in their parish environment. Appropriate steps should be taken to reduce the risk, particularly where the environment around the vicarage or church is lonely, poorly lit and / or in an area where criminal activity is more likely.
Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy
The guidelines on Lone Working and Personal Safety should be read in conjunction with the good practice advice given in the Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy
“At the heart of ministry is risk. Faced by a pastoral situation the minister has to take immediate decisions about what to say and do”.
Clergy will often find themselves in the powerful position of meeting people at the limits of their vulnerability. The Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy seek to help you to safeguard and reassure such people, so engendering trust, without which ministry cannot take place. They set out how to maintain appropriate boundaries, which in themselves are helpful in preventing misunderstandings and reducing risks.
Measures to minimise the risks of lone working
There are a number of things which can be done to minimise risks when clergy work alone.
The most important precautions you can take are:
- Know as much as possible about any potentially risky situation
- Ensure you have a mobile phone with you
- Do not put yourself into a situation where you are very vulnerable
- Let someone else know where you are if you feel you must go into that situation alone.
Reporting incidents
Please report any incidents that happen to you, so that you can be supported and so that we can learn any lessons and improve practice in this difficult area. If you have any concerns, please talk to your Area Dean.
Further details on personal safety can be obtained from:
Suzy Lamplugh Trust
http://www.suzylamplugh.org
Home Office
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office