Finding things challenging

[ThePerkyCoralPoet]

Not to sure how to elaborate. My head of faculty has been away since December. He has been in once or twice but then just goes again. The rumours are that most people are fed up of his persistent absenteeism, but professionally they won’t say anything. Things have been challenging in the department and I really need some advice? Why are staff allowed to do this and why can’t we have a hod who comes in?

Why are staff allowed to do this? Because the school's absence policy lets them. It's between the head and the sick member of staff - no one else knows (or should know) what's going on.

If, however, it's directly affecting your workload, you need to ask for support. Do you need more time? Do you need more resources?

It’s really none of your business why he’s away and of course staff are “allowed” to be sick. Your issue is with workload and you need extra support, not with the sick staff member.

Surely there are reasons why the Head of Faculty / Department cannot come in, which could be personal? If it is the case that they are absenting themselves without permission from the school, that's for the senior leadership team to deal with. And assuming it is a large department (you say they're a Head of Faculty), surely there are other colleagues to draw upon for support - e.g. a second in charge, or at the very least, more experienced colleagues?

You don't know what is going on with the HoF - there could be a whole host of reasons why he is absent.

If his absence is impacting on your workload or you need more support, then that should be your focus.

Can you arrange to speak to a member of SLT and explain the specific things you are struggling with and ask them for advice/support?

If you want to give brief details here, we may be able to give some general advice/suggestions as well.

It’s none of anyone else’s business why he is absent and you and your team should not speculate. He’s chosen not to communicate this reason so you must respect that.

The chances are - he’s dealing with an illness or caring for a close relative who is ill.

The school should have someone who is covering their role in extended absence - even if it’s not just someone the departmental team can speak to if needed. Can you speak to an Assistant or Deputy Head?

Sorry but why are you so unnecessarily rude? It is our business. He has appealing attendance and sets no cover work. There is nothing at all wrong with he can’t handle the role. I’ve overheard conversations in slt and often the comment of “oh he’s not here again. Typical”. This is persistent absenteeism from his part which has led to the complete breakdown of a department. Every department needs a head to ensure things run efficiently. No one can even stand in when he randomly pops in and out. It’s persistent and infuriating for his team.

I will DM you as it may be too obvious here.

Okay maybe I won’t DM you haha the function doesn’t work. Essentially, he has been in and out for long periods of time spanning over 3 years. He has done this somewhat regularly. People seem to be fed up. Both above and below him in the ranking system. Most people have taken a disdain towards him and have said he’s abused the system and essentially he is partly why they have had to really tighten up the absence policy. When he comes in he acts totally oblivious to the actual chaos ensuing around him and shuts the office door and is completely removed from us all.

This exhausts me. But what can be one realistically? The school can’t do anything either I imagine?

Sounds like SLT need to pull their finger out and do something about your Head of Faculty / Head of Department if this is indeed incompetence / absenteeism as you suggest, OP. Though I'd be interested to know whether this is how they've been historically, or whether it's only started this term.

It's not great that they're not setting cover work for their classes. I don't know whether you are in primary or secondary, OP, but if the latter, where does that leave the HOD's exam classes (assuming it is a subject in which exams are taken)? You would think SLT would intervene and arrange for some sort of long(er) term cover given the situation that you describe.

Perhaps you could throw your name into the hat if it gets to the point of them needing to appoint an Acting or even new HOF / HOD.

As it should be, it's very very hard to dismiss someone - and more do when they're ill.

And if he's off for extended periods, how can he set cover?

There must be someone in the line management structure who can support the team in dealing with it - but you need to be clear about what you need from them.

For example, a colleague of mine was off for an extended period. Rather than setting cover for a group for x periods a week, we shuffled the timetable and I set cover for y periods, taught them for z periods and then was exempted from
more or less everything else. It was manageable because I knew that it wasn't forever, the kids got a better deal and it reduced the cover work writing load.