PCT Signs Up to the Mindful Employer Charter
23/01/2008
Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust will strive to be a Mindful Employer after signing up to a special Charter for organisations who are positive about mental health.
The Charter is an important part of the Mindful Employer initiative aimed at increasing awareness of mental health at work.
Stress, depression and anxiety are the cause of more working days lost than any other work related illness. It can lead to the loss of valued and talented people, with greater pressure placed on people covering for absent workers.
As well as providing proactive support to individual staff who experience mental health issues, the PCT will show a positive attitude to job applicants with mental health issues.
The Trust will also work to ensure that all staff involved in recruitment and selection are briefed on mental health issues and the Disability Discrimination Act and given appropriate interview skills.
Director of Human Resources at Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, Nuala Ring said:
“With the right support, people with mental health issues can and do stay in work. We consider it the responsibility of any good employer to provide a supportive environment that gets the best from our workforce and the best for patients.”
The PCT’s commitment will be demonstrated in positive statements in recruitment literature, including use of the Mindful Employer logo.
Although the Charter is a voluntary agreement, the PCT will be reviewed
in two years time to check on the progress it is making.
Further Information
Mindful Employer is led by employers and aimed at increasing awareness of mental health in the workplace and supporting businesses in recruiting and retaining staff.
A wide range of employers have been involved in planning the initiative which gives businesses ongoing practical support, training materials, an on-line discussion forum, support networks and assistance from other employers.
Mindful Employer is facilitated by WorkWAYS, a service run by Devon Partnership NHS Trust, which provides information, guidance and practical support for people whose mental health affects their ability to find or retain employment, training, education or voluntary work.
Since Mindful Employer was launched in 2004, 206 employers representing over 270,000 employees have signed the Charter for Employers who are Positive About Mental Health.
Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust employs over 3,500 staff.
