ID179 Cultivating and Embedding Care, Compassion and Transparency

The Idea

To co-create a university culture where every person feels valued, psychologically safe, and genuinely cared for.  Our culture would be fostered on trust, openness and transparency embedding care and compassion into everything we do.  We want students, staff and other key stakeholders to not only be seen but heard and validated with a focus on empathy and acceptance.  However, it is important to acknowledge the instability of the educational sector at present and how this can exacerbate insecurity and safety for all.   

The ‘Cultivating Care and Compassion (CCC) Advocate’ network would therefore play a role at student, school, faculty, professional services and senior leadership level demonstrating compassionate and inclusive leadership.  This is a key framework acknowledged by the National Health Service (prioritising empathy, inclusion and psychological safety), central to Keele’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy (prioritising equity, responsibility and experience) and a core component of Keele University’s positive research culture objectives (fostering inclusive, supportive and transparent environments).  Furthermore, the CCC advocate network is closely aligned with the universities Mental Health Charter ambitions which include wellbeing, belonging, psychological safety and compassionate leadership.   

The vision is to instil and abide to a non-blaming culture, shared accountability and individual responsibility for all to thieve, grow and be a role model to others in the local, national and global arena of academia, research and citizenship.

Why This Idea Should Be Considered

This strategic idea is to instil a sense of being cared for, valued and heard as a member of staff, as a student and as a key stakeholder at Keele University.  The 2023 – 2026 HREiR action plan obligations refer to transparency, the promotion of good mental health and well-being, healthy working environments, inclusive cultures and the need to address discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace. Furthermore, the recent staff 2025 Pulse Survey highlights there is still work to be done on engagement through leadership, voice, workload and support where key target areas of focus were fair and equal treatment, open communication, meaningful action and a safe place to disclose protected characteristics.

How We Would Implement This Idea

This idea would be turned into action by recruiting ‘Cultivating Care and Compassion Advocates’ (CCC Advocate) as part of a university network which will be recognised, acknowledged and rewarded as a core EDI role at the University.  However, it will require meaningful thought and collaboration to define the role, its responsibilities, accountability and influence across the university.  Further thought is required to how this role and network would be established utilising opportunities for academic expertise in the fields of psychology, mental health, organisational behaviour, leadership and education to help shape an evidence-based approach towards a CCC network.  An idea would be to link this through Keele’s EDI strategy to embed meaningful inclusivity.  It will also require support from our senior leadership team to acknowledge the value of these roles and protect time, space and reflection for those that do represent their student body, school, faculty, professional services and senior roles.  This would reflect an inside / out approach to compassionate leadership where trust, openness, transparency, communication and relationship effectiveness are central to the core values of the idea. 

What Success Would Look Like

Success will be reflected in a culture where staff, students, and stakeholders experience a strong sense of belonging, feel valued and supported, and recognise their contribution to the distinctive Keele community.  Through fostering care, compassion, and transparency, the University will create an inclusive environment in which individuals feel safe to learn, work, develop, and thrive.  This culture will promote meaningful professional development, collaborative working, communities of practice, civic engagement, and research excellence, enabling our community to flourish and embody the ‘Keele difference’.