April 22, 2023 1

Unison Disabled Staff Group25th April 2012

Improving Employee Mental Health at TfL

April 22, 2023 2

Mental Health

Foresight Report 2008:Mental Capital and Wellbeing

Assessing the work environment

• Reviewed workplace risk assessment process for psychological risks in 2005 with safety colleagues responsible for the process.

• This led to improved use of psychological expertise in workplace risk assessment

• Ongoing collaboration with safety/human factors colleagues

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Diagnosis and remediation of underlying issues

• Ongoing annual data analysis informs the planning process – sickness absence/employee survey

• Work to identify issues and provide support at hotspots

• In depth research at two sites to identify factors and enable specific and focussed planning

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Improving Management competence: Interventions at Team Level• Stress ‘hotspots’ - those areas in particular

difficulty

• Send in a specialist - we use an occupational therapist with expertise in mental health issues

• Spend time with manager(s) and employees separately to identify problems

• Then facilitate the team working together to identify improvements and implement them

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Interventions at Team Level

• Engage senior managers as the first step• Workshops/Training for managers on identifying,

responding to and supporting employees with mental health problems

• One to one coaching for managers re individual cases – action planning

• Workshops for staff on building resilience• Other measures as identified through the process

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Programme summary• Mental health plan developed and delivered each

year

• At the individual levelo Stress reduction groups/one to one counsellingo Communications

• At the team levelo Advice and support on individual caseso Stress ‘hotspot’ worko People management trainingo Communications

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Programme summary continued• At the organisational level

o Steering groupo Analysis of absence figures and company

employee survey o Development of training materials in mental health

& resilience and use in routine trainingo Workplace risk assessmento Supportive policies – harassment and bullying,

flexible working etco Communications – plan and strategy

Training MaterialsYou can’t stop the wavesbut you can learn to surf!

Manager Guide (July 2004)

o Common Causes

o How to help employees

with stress

o RTW advice

o Relaxation CD

I

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Training Materials

Going with the Flow: Remaining Resilient Through Change and Challenge

Employee booklet and e-learning course 2011

• Booklet• E-Learning• Workshops• Health Fairs

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Raising the profile of mental wellbeing at work:

• Mental health communications plan• Steering group• Mental health report - presented at board level• Work with Trade Union H&S reps• Collaboration with MIND ‘Time to Change’

Programme• Work with Equality and Inclusion, and the Staff

Network Groups on awareness issues

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Raising the profile

• Mental health communications plan• Steering group• Mental health report - presented at board

level• Work with Trade Union H&S reps• Collaboration with MIND ‘Time to Change’

Programme

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Thank You!