Mental Health Core Standards

Introducing the mental health core standards (Cited in the Thriving at Work Report October 2017)

For private businesses of up to 500 employees employers can and should:

1. Produce, implement and communicate a mental health at work plan that promotes good mental health of all employees and outlines the support available for those who may need it.
2. Develop mental health awareness among employees by making information, tools and support accessible.
3. Encourage open conversations about mental health and the support available when employees are struggling, during the recruitment process and at regular intervals throughout employment, offer appropriate workplace adjustments to employees who require them.
4. Provide employees with good working conditions and ensure they have a healthy work life balance and opportunities for development.
5. Promote effective people management to ensure all employees have a regular conversation about their health and well-being with their line manager, supervisor or organisational leader and train and support line managers and supervisors in effective management practices.
6. Routinely monitor employee mental health and well being by understanding available data, talking to employees, and understanding risk factors.

Mental Health Enhanced Standards

Public sector and private businesses with more than 500 employees should also consider adopting a more enhanced level of infrastructure to:

1. Increase transparency and accountability through internal and external reporting, to include a leadership commitment and outline of the organisation’s approach to mental health.
2. Demonstrate accountability by nominating a health and well being lead at Board or Senior Leadership level, with clear reporting duties and responsibilities.
3. Improve the disclosure process to encourage openness during recruitment and throughout, ensuring employees are aware of why the information is needed and make sure the right support is in place to facilitate a good employer response following disclosure.
4. Ensure provision of tailored in-house mental health support and signposting to clinical help, including digital support, employer-purchased Occupational Health or Employee Assistance Programmes, or NHS services, amongst other sources of support.

How TranceForm Can Help

TranceForm can help you to specify and deliver these mental health core standards by helping with Policy Development, Organisational steerage and infrastructure deployment.

Our combined skills in mental healthcare, counselling, corporate governance and health & safety allows us to provide the best level of expertise available.