BMet signs national charter to support positivity towards mental health
BMet College has reaffirmed its commitment to positive mental health in the workplace by signing a national wellbeing charter.
‘The Charter for Employers Positive about Mental Health’ is part of ‘Mindful Employer’, a UK wide initiative run by Devon Partnership NHS Trust. The aim is to empower employers to take the lead in supporting the mental wellbeing of employees.
In signing the declaration, BMet has made a public declaration of a desire to support the mental wellbeing of staff across the organisation.
BMet’s allegiance means that it is now officially recognised as an employer that is working towards better mental health at work.
Employees at the college will benefit from information and support from Mindful Employer. Resources available include helpful guides on “Keeping Well at work”, a practical guide for staff experiencing anxiety, depression or stress and a Line Managers Resource – A practical guide to supporting staff with a mental health condition.
According to research, 1 in 6 adults have a mental health condition at any one time – and among adults of working age that can be as high as 1 in 3. This means that it can be a real issue that BMet is working hard to tackle within its colleges, which include James Watt, Matthew Boulton and Sutton Coldfield college.
Sam Coles, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, at BMet said: “We recognise that in the UK, people experiencing mental ill health continue to report stigma and discrimination at work.
“Having signed the ‘Charter for Employers Positive about Mental Health’, we are committed to creating a supportive and open culture, where colleagues feel able to talk about mental health and are appropriately supported to maintain good mental wellbeing.”
By supporting the Charter, BMet also agrees to the following values:
- To provide non-judgmental and proactive support to staff experiencing mental ill-health
- To not make assumptions about a person with a mental health condition and their ability to work
- To be positive and enabling toward all employees and applicants with a mental health condition
- To support line managers in managing mental health in the workplace
- To ensure they are fair in the recruitment of new staff in accordance with the Equality Act (2010)
- To make it clear that people who have experienced mental ill-health will not be discriminated against and that disclosure of a mental health condition will enable both employer and employee to assess and provide the right level of support or adjustment
Diversity and Inclusion are at the heart of BMet – read more about its commitments and practices, which support both our students and staff here.
For more information on Mindful Employer’s ‘The Charter for Employers Positive about Mental Health’, please visit: https://www.mindfulemployer.dpt.nhs.uk.