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Testing out a theory

Physiotherapist Vicki checking on a client

Free initial online consultations at Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic

Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic online consultations continue to be highly successful and have curved their way through the obstacles created by the pandemic to remain open – virtually.

They’ve been able to adjust the way they approach assessments of functional movements, joint range of movement(s) such as squatting technique corrections and have found the production of online videos to show specific movements has been highly effective. Many have been increasing their running or getting involved in virtual fitness classes, but found themselves getting niggles. The consultations have been great to speak to people and look at their techniques and movements then discuss exercises to help combat the symptoms.

They’re extremely proud of what they’ve achieved and, to date, have been able to reach out and provide more than 150 free initial consultations with clients kindly donating to the NHS Charities.

They will continue to provide free initial consultations and hope to be able to provide face-to-face consultations, with a triage system, in the near future to add the manual therapy treatments which they know many will benefit from and make those next steps towards their goals. This may be the lingering neck pain, back pain or perhaps shoulder pain where exercises have been completed daily as recommended with significant improvements already gained.

“I have recently taken advantage of the free online consultations that are available through Kent Sport Physiotherapy clinic. Although I was unsure whether Vicky would be able to help me online, she diagnosed my problem almost straight away during our first Zoom meeting. She then sent me some exercises which I have been doing daily and which have been helping to reduce the pain I was in. Vicky has also given me a follow up consultation just to check that the exercises are working. It has been really good to know exactly what was causing my pain and to be able to talk to someone so knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you Vicky for all your help!” – Susan Grimer, Library Assistant

So far, they’ve been able to reach out to 32 members of University of Kent staff, who have not been to the clinic before and provide professional physiotherapy advice to them. This number does not include the many staff members who have visited the clinic before lockdown and continue to have contact.

The testimonials from staff members has been incredible and they thank you for your feedback.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the clinic via email: physio@kent.ac.uk.

Find out more about Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic by visiting their website and like them on Facebook. Please consider showing your support by donating to the NHS charities.

BAME event

Online discussion of institutional racism – Tuesday 7 July

All staff are invited to an online discussion of ‘Understanding and Interrupting Institutional Racism: A Collaborative Dialogue to Communicate Strategies to Advance the Agenda at the University of Kent’, on Tuesday 7 July, from 16.00-17.15.

This collaborative dialogue will give staff an opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives on institutional racism with senior members of the University’s academic leadership team.

We want these discussions to disrupt structural factors that produce white privilege and systemic disadvantage, and to advance an agenda of racial equality. We invite all staff to reflect on their identities and social positions, taking an “intersectional” approach. This approach recognises that several aspects of (in)equality combine to shape experiences and perspectives. It therefore helps to explain why a Black woman, for example, may experience racism very differently than her Black brother, father or male partner.

The meeting is intended:

-To give participants an opportunity to share perspectives and experiences of institutional racism at work, including any recommendations for change, with the University’s senior academic leadership team.

-To give members of the University’s senior academic leadership team:

  • access to and information about staff experiences of institutional [or structural] racism at work
  • opportunities to answer [and to ask] questions about staff experiences of institutional [or structural] racism at work
  • a space in which to affirm commitments to addressing staff concerns about institutional [or structural] racism at the University.

The panel will include: Professor Karen Cox (Vice-Chancellor and President); Professor Christina Hughes (Interim Director of Student Services); Professor Richard Reece (Deputy Vice Chancellor – Education and Student Experience); Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura (Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Academic Strategy, Planning and Performance); Derek Baldwin (Branch Secretary, UNISON); and Sian Lewis-Anthony (President, University of Kent UCU Branch).

Discussion will focus on: the staff profile of the institution; decision-making boards and committees; equal pay; staff recruitment; progression and development; health and wellbeing support; sense of belonging; racial harassment; and racial discrimination.

We hope this event will be the first of many. There’s no need to sign-up – you can join live on Tuesday 7 July from 16.00 by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/2ZfYRJb

We look forward to seeing you (virtually) there!

Dave Thomas
Co-Chair University of Kent BAME Staff Network and Equalities Officer (UNISON)

 

A close up of the inside of a purple flower

Supporting your wellbeing during Covid-19

As social restrictions continue to ease during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, a number of us will be feeling apprehensive, or even anxious.

Remember that our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is here to help you at times like these. You can find series of webinars on all aspects of living under lockdown and the Covid-19 crisis, on the home page of the EAP website, (login: uokent and password: university).

The EAP home page also offers webinars on many other mental health issues – especially timely during the coronavirus crisis.

Alongside the EAP, the University has plenty of other support available to help staff manage their mental health positively. Much of this can be found by browsing the staff Health and Wellbeing website

The University provides counselling for all staff via the EAP. This can be telephone, online or face-to-face counselling; the pathway is agreed between the EAP assessing counsellor and the individual. Counselling can be accessed most easily by using the EAP’s freephone telephone number: 0808 168 2143.

When you ring, you will always speak to a trained counsellor who does an initial assessment and discusses the best form of counselling the EAP can offer to support you. Up to eight sessions are available for University staff.

You can find out more about the EAP and all it can offer on the OH website

Kent logo

Condolences for Dr Arthur Keaveney

It was with great sadness that the Department of Classical & Archaeological Studies learned of the death of Dr Arthur Keaveney, our dear friend and colleague for many years, who passed away on Tuesday 23 June after a short illness.

Arthur Keaveney

Arthur began his teaching and research career at the University of Kent in 1979, developing a distinguished reputation as an Ancient Historian. He was an immensely popular teacher and published frequently, this interest covering wide themes in the history of the Classical World and extending as far as Elizabethan political thought. He retired as Reader in Ancient History in 2014 but remained fully committed to promoting his subject, and primarily assisting and enthusing students and all these who came to share in the fascination of exploring the ancient past.

Steve Willis, Head of Department of Classical & Archaeological Studies writes:

‘Arthur was a cornerstone of our teaching in Ancient History for many years. His style of delivery and guidance was invariably popular with our student cohorts year on year. He had a rich hinterland of interests, with stories and anecdotes to accompany his observations on the human condition. There was something of the old-style political Radical to him. Well-travelled, often to less commonly visited locations, I recall that at the end of three terms of very full teaching and marking, culminating in long Exams Board meetings, he delighted in the prospect of his imminent departure on a Caribbean holiday: to Cuba’.

 

A bowl of food with chopsticks

Rutherford Dining Hall – open all summer to staff

To those of you already working on the Canterbury campus and others preparing to return, we are delighted to inform you know that Rutherford Dining Hall will be open throughout the summer 12.00 – 18.00, Monday to Sunday.

– All staff have been given access to Rutherford College via their KentOne card (staff ID card)

– The Wok bar is serving daily with other special menu items such as breaded haddock, curried duck leg, all day brunch, chicken katsu, roast dinner, fresh salad and veg options and more

– Check out Twitter for the daily menus.

Please note we are only accepting card/contactless payment and currently it is takeaway only, however from 5 July this may change to some socially distanced seating within Rutherford Dining Hall.

For further information or queries, please contact catering@kent.ac.uk

JSNCC Papers now available

Staff representation on the JSNCC

The Joint Staff Negotiating and Consultation Committee (JSNCC) is one of the most important committees in the University, with a remit that covers consultation on topics such as the University’s plans and proposals as well as negotiation on pay and staff terms and conditions.

At present, the JSNCC is consulting and negotiating with the aim of reaching agreement on a new reward strategy and will shortly begin consultations on a proposed pay freeze.  If agreements are reached, the proposals will be implemented and staff contracts will be varied automatically without the need for staff to agree individually.

It is therefore vitally important that staff are properly and fully represented on the JSNCC.  In addition to elected representatives of our recognised trade unions, there are also four seats on JSNCC for elected representatives of staff who are not trade union members: two representing the professional services and research support staff in grades 1 to 6; and two representing the academic, research and professional services staff in grades 7+.

One of the two grade 7+ staff representatives, Denise Twomey, will be leaving the University at the end of July 2020.  Denise has been an active and committed representative and has played a full role in the work of the JSNCC over the past few years.  Two candidates have been nominated to replace Denise and to act as grade 7+ staff representative alongside Jon King.  The two candidates are:

  • Mita Mondal – School Administration Manager from the School of Engineering and Digital Arts, who has been nominated by Farzin Deravi and Melissa Mulhall
  • Charlotte Ransom – School Administration Manager from the School of Computing, who has been nominated by Andrea Peett and Alison Webster

Details of how to vote will shortly be emailed to all staff in grade 7 and above along with a link to the two candidates’ election statements.  Please take a few minutes to read the candidates’ statements and to cast your vote – it is very easy to do and totally confidential.

Kent logo

Statement of support for trans colleagues

The University is committed to ensuring we provide an inclusive and welcoming community where all staff and students are enabled to meet their full potential and are treated as individuals. This includes providing support and understanding to those who wish to take, or have taken, steps to present themselves in a gender different to their birth gender.

We are aware that the impact of Covid-19 is particularly acute for trans and non-binary colleagues, and that their situation is compounded by the uncertainties surrounding the implementation of proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004.The proposals would make it more straightforward for trans people to get legal recognition of their gender, and would improve the lives of many trans people immeasurably. The majority of the public responses to the consultation on reforming the Gender Recognition Act supported the proposed changes.

We stand firmly with our trans and non-binary colleagues in calling for trans equality, with better support and recognition for trans and non-binary people and the struggles they face.

We know that we, as an institution, still have work to do, but we are unequivocal in our commitment to make the University a safe and welcoming place for staff and students of all genders and identities.

Trans people are our colleagues, our students, our friends, and we will continue to support them on the journey to true equality.

If you would like to learn how to be an ally, or wish to find out more about the rights of trans and non-binary people, further information is available from Mermaids and Stonewall.

University resources

 

 

Professor Karen Cox

Vice-Chancellor’s update – 29 June 2020

With the end of term, exam board activity, work underway to bring the campuses back to life through the re-opening of buildings and laboratories and continued work on the Organising for Success project, I am conscious there is a lot going on. I am glad to say however, that following the closure of the UCAS deadline for home undergraduate applications, our applications, offers and firm acceptances are looking positive. While we still have a long way to go, this is very good news. Work is still underway to increase the number of home and international postgraduate taught applications and preparations continue for confirmation and clearing activity in August. Thank you to all those colleagues who are working tirelessly in this area, particularly under such difficult circumstances.

Following a visit in June the General Medical Council has confirmed that the Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS) has met all necessary requirements to be able to welcome its first students in September. This is excellent news. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all those who have worked tirelessly, both within KMMS and across the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University, to get us to this point.

Meanwhile, as a result of the University’s partnership with Santander Universities UK, we have now established 100 scholarships of £500 each to support students who find themselves unable to find work during the summer months because of the pandemic. We have also received an extra £25,000 of funding to support students suffering financial hardship. This will be added to the University’s own hardship fund. I am immensely grateful for this support.

The partnership has also led to a package of targeted grant support for Kent businesses under a scheme managed by Kent Business School (KBS). Grants have already been issued to a Kent-grown fresh produce home delivery service, a Thanet-based social enterprise working with the elderly, and a meal service for homeless people in Thanet and Canterbury. In addition, the partnership has also led to a financial boost for the work we have been doing in support of NHS and frontline care workers.

Finally, over the weekend, the Government made an announcement of a package of support for university research and innovation. This is most welcome and acknowledges the key contribution that university research will make to the economic and social recovery of the country from the effect of Covid-19. We are now working through the details to determine our eligibility for this support and I will update you once further details of the support packages are released.

Our situation continues to be fast-moving, and I realise this is a difficult time for all staff. As you will already know, we have granted two additional rest days to all staff on 9 and 10 July and, if you haven’t already, please talk with your line manager about taking this time to step away from work, the screen, Teams and Zoom.

With my thanks for all that you are doing.

Karen

Professor Karen Cox | Vice-Chancellor and President

 

Templeman Library

Congratulations to our new Fellows and Senior Fellows of the HEA

The Centre for the Study of Higher Education congratulates the following colleagues who applied for Senior Fellowship and Fellowship of Advance HE (formerly the Higher Education Academy) through the Route to Recognition for Experienced Staff (RRES), and successfully gained national recognition for their leadership, excellence, expertise and commitment to professionalism in teaching and learning.

Senior Fellowship

Fellowship

Congratulations!

computer-laptop-work-place-mouse

Care First webinars w/c 29 June 2020

From discussing mental wellbeing for home workers, to advice on talking to children about Covid-19, Care First continue to provide free webinars for staff to sign up to.

Here’s the webinar schedule for the week commencing 29 June 2020.

Monday 29 June 2020 – ‘How to talk to Children about Covid-19’

Time: 14.00 – 14.30 – To register click on this Go to webinar link.

Tuesday 30 June 2020  – ‘Physical & Mental Wellbeing for Home Workers’

Time:  11.00 – 11.30 – To register click on this Go to webinar link.

Wednesday 1 July 2020 – ‘Covid-19: Returning to Work after Furlough’

Time: 14.00 – 14.30 – To register click on this Go to webinar link.

Thursday 2 July 2020 – ‘Loneliness during the Covid-19 Pandemic’

Time: 15.00 – 15.30 – To register click on this Go to webinar link.

Friday 3 July 2020 – ‘Teenage Mental Health’

Time: 11.00 -11.30 – To register click on this Go to webinar link.