Mental well being policy

Published: 25 November 2022
Freedom of information class: How we manage our resources

About

The pressures and stresses of modern day living can be found in both the home and in the workplace. Personal life and work can place a variety of demands on us and we endeavour to meet these demands using individual or organisational resources. When there is a good balance between demands and resources the result is a pleasant energising feeling called "pressure".

You could be very busy indeed and still only be experiencing pressure rather than suffering any adverse health affect to your mental well-being. The term stress is used to describe a mismatch between personal and external demands and the available personal and external resources.

Stress is always bad for health - and is never good for business - anxiety and depression are other forms of mental ill health, which can have an adverse impact on individuals at home and in the workplace.

RoS promotes a comprehensive approach to tackling mental health issues arising from the workplace or personal circumstances by addressing the roles of prevention, management and help. This policy must be supported by a shared understanding between staff and team leaders/managers that mental ill health can be a legitimate health issue in the workplace.

Employees experiencing difficulties that could lead to them suffering mental health illness will be encouraged to seek help and support. Employees have a duty to themselves and others to help minimise mental ill health in the workplace and should take an active part in mental well-being management initiatives.

Objectives

  • To maximise mental well-being in the workplace environment
  • to provide a working environment where hazards to health are identified, assessed and removed or reduced
  • to ensure that staff who have, or have had, symptoms of mental ill health are treated responsibly and in an understanding manner

Policy

  • RoS will review its prevention and management programmes from time to time through Line Management, Human Resources, Health and Safety,  Occupational Health Service and our Employee Assistance provider
  • RoS will ensure that staff have the opportunity to acquire the skills and competencies necessary to help to meet changing work demands through appropriate training and development
  • RoS will offer mental well-being seminars to staff from time to time on the nature, causes, recognition of mental ill health, and resources available to reduce or remove it
  • RoS will provide training for all managers on how to manage and eliminate or minimise mental ill-health in the work environment

Responsibilities

This policy reminds everyone that we all have responsibilities in addressing mental well-being issues and any member of staff should not hesitate to seek advice and/or support if they feel they need it. Confidentiality should be observed when dealing with mental ill-health issues. However, in exceptional circumstances, it may be necessary to involve others where if it is clear that a person's state of mental health may be a danger to the safety of themselves or others.

The role of managers

Managers have a critical role in minimising mental ill health risks and in offering support to employees. They should:

  • carry out risk assessments in their work areas to identify any hazards that could give rise to mental ill health issues and act upon these hazards to eliminate or minimise them where practicable
  • ensure they provide good communication to their staff, particularly where there are organisational and procedural changes
  • ensure staff are fully trained to do the job
  • ensure staff are provided with appropriate training and developmental opportunities
  • ensure staff are managing the demands of the job by monitoring workloads and working hours
  • ensure that staff are taking their full leave entitlement by monitoring holidays
  • ensure that bullying and harassment is not tolerated within their work area
  • be vigilant and offer additional support to a member of staff who is experiencing stress outside work e.g. bereavement or separation
  • offer access to skilled, professional help and advice to staff with mental ill health related problems
  • keep in touch with staff who are absent because of ill-health
  • provide advice and support to them through their period of recovery
  • offer support to other staff and colleagues of someone suffering from mental ill health, as appropriate
  • ensure that employees returning to work after a period of absence due to mental ill-health are handled in a sensitive and sympathetic manner. If the cause of the individual's illness had been due to specific work issues, the manager must ensure that these work-related issues are addressed before the individual resumes their duties

The role of Human Resources

  • advise managers on how to carry out risk assessments in the workplace
  • offer advice and support for managers in dealing with instances of mental ill-health at work
  • liaise with managers over return to work arrangements following a period of absence due to mental ill health and to advise on how to rehabilitate the individual and on whether redeployment of the individual to an alternative position is necessary
  • offer access to skilled, professional help and advice to staff with mental ill health related problems
  • assist in monitoring the effectiveness of measures to address stress by collating sickness absence statistics

The role of Occupational Health Service

  • to enable the individual to access confidential medical support and information
  • to provide an Occupational Health report, where appropriate, on fitness for work, after an extended period of mental ill-health

The role of employees

  • raise issues of concern regarding mental well-being with their Team Leader/Manager, PCS, Occupational Health or HELP
  • accept opportunities to attend mental well-being seminars, when offered
  • accept opportunities for counselling when recommended
  • to behave in a manner that is conducive to the mental well-being of their colleagues

The role of Union Officials

  • encourage members to seek help where appropriate
  • helping individuals to understand the policy and where to seek help, if necessary

If you feel you are experiencing mental health related issues the following guides show the procedures, which might be useful to you.

Quick guide to the procedures for dealing with mental ill health related issues - while at work and absences due to mental ill health.

Unfair Treatment

If you feel at any time, that you have been treated unfairly under the Mental Well-being policy you should refer to the RoS' grievance procedures.

Sources of advice or assistance

  • Your Manager
  • Your HR Adviser
  • Your Trade Union Representative
  • Your Doctor
  • RoS' Employee Assistance Programme (HELP) through the confidential Helpline number - 0800 032 9849
  • Occupational Health Service

Approval and review

This policy will be reviewed and approved by the Policy and Practice Group annually, unless earlier review is appropriate.

AuthorHROD Team – ER 
ReviewedHead of People and Change 
Cleared Corporate Director
ApprovalPPG Approval date Existing policy
Policy version Version 1.0
Review responsibilityPolicy and Practice Group Review date April 2022
Publication scheme Yes
Email to contactemployeerelations@ros.gov.uk