Monthly Archives: April 2015

Kent Sport survey, win £100!

Take the Kent Sport survey by Friday 17 April and you could win a £100 Amazon voucher.

The survey is an important piece of annual research that helps Kent Sport make the necessary improvements to keep our services and facilities first-rate.

We’re inviting Kent Sport members and non-members, staff and students to complete the survey.

Everyone who completes the survey will be placed into a prize draw to win a £100 Amazon voucher.

If you have any queries regarding the survey, please speak to reception or email sportsenquiries@kent.ac.uk.

Staff member running from London to Brighton for Kent Air Ambulance

Jonathan Fitchett, tutor at the Centre for English and World Languages, part-time Drama Phd student and occasional ultra runner, is undertaking the prestigious London2Brighton Challenge (100km) on May 23rd. His chosen charity for this event is the Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance, who provide an essential emergency service in hard-to-reach areas across the southeast.

He hopes, however, that he won’t be requiring their help on the 23rd!

If you would like to support Jonathan in his endeavours then he’d be very grateful if you visited his fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/Jonathan-Fitchett/

New Shared Parental leave comes into effect

The new Shared Parental Leave and Pay legislation will enable eligible parents (including adopters) to share a period of leave and pay following the birth or placement of their child. The new provisions apply to parents whose children are due to be born or adopted on or after 5 April 2015. Shared Parental Leave (SPL) may be taken by each parent separately or together at the same time.

To view the University of Kent policy and procedure on Shared Parental Leave, and other family friendly provisions, please click here.

Additional paternity leave will now be replaced by the new shared parental leave. Staff member’s existing rights to maternity leave, ordinary paternity leave and parental leave will remain unchanged (although please note that entitlements to parental leave have increased to parents with children up to the age of 18).

Further information can be found on the government website.

Staff and line managers should speak to their relevant HR Advisor if they require further information.

New RPD Training Session added at Medway campus

Learning and Development have now launched a second RPD Training Session at Medway. The session will be held on Monday 15 June 2015 from 13.30 to 16.30.

Please go to the Learning and Development website to book a place using the RPD booking form.

The RPD training sessions, facilitated by Learning and Development, have been designed to help you prepare for your RPD conversations and clarify roles and responsibilities of both the reviewer and reviewee. The training, which lasts between two-and-a-half to three hours focuses on how you can get the best from RPD and covers:

  • An overview of the RPD framework: objectives and principles
  • The RPD cycle RPD documentation
  • RPD a constructive conversation
  • Preparing for RPD The three parts of RPD: process and skills
  • Follow-up and next steps

Wellbeing books to help you through exams

While you’re working hard, don’t forget to look after yourself too.

Our Wellbeing book collection is there to help you through the busy Summer Term. It has titles covering different aspects of mental health, personal development, stress, mindfulness, as well as study and exam tips.

Wellbeing book exhibition

In the Libary (social learning zone) until 28 May

Our expanded Wellbeing book collection is now on display in the Library, offering a diverse range of titles.

Please borrow from the collection – the books are there for you to use.

We will change the display of books regularly, so you might find something different on every visit.

You can also use LibrarySearch to look for mental health and wellbeing titles, just enter a keyword for your topic of interest. There are lots of e-books you can read online.

Join the Wellbeing Walk on 20 May

Meet in the Library Welcome Hall at 1pm for a 30-minute walk

When busy, exercising might not be a priority – but it can be the thing your body (and brain!) needs most of all.

On our walk, we’ll enjoy our beautiful outside space on campus, mindfully taking in the sights and sounds to exercise your body and refresh your mind. The walk will be suitable for wheelchair users.

On your return to Templeman, you may find that you focus better and are more relaxed around your work than you were previously.

See what a difference half an hour can make!

It’s for staff too

At busy times it’s easy to get tempted not to take a break and carry on working. There are tips on managing stress the importance of taking breaks on the Staff wellbeing website. Come on our walk on 20 May – your brain will thank you by functioning better when it’s had a break!

Staff are also welcome to borrow from the Wellbeing collection.

Other activities

Student Wellbeing Services and Kent Sports are offering activities outside the Library during the week of 11 May – more detail will be available soon!