Charter for Employers

“Devon Partnership NHS Trust has been instrumental in supporting, developing and communicating MINDFUL EMPLOYER for the benefit of local employers and individuals with mental health issues. Through our public commitment to the initiative as an employer we have publicly demonstrated our ongoing commitment to our own workforce that we wish to continue to review and develop model employment practices ourselves.”

Darran Armitage
Associate Director Human Resources
Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Since MINDFUL EMPLOYER was launched in 2004, 499 employers have signed the Charter for Employers who are Positive About Mental Health.

The Charter for Employers who are Positive about Mental Health is just one element of the MINDFUL EMPLOYER^® initiative and is open to any employer - small, medium or large; public, private or voluntary sector, anywhere in the UK. The Charter is a voluntary agreement which seeks to support employers in working within the spirit of its positive approach. It is not legally enforceable and doesn’t negate the need for employers to get the right person with the right experience, qualifications and skills for the job. The Charter fully respects there will be many different priorities, policies and practices which influence the way staff are recruited and retained – the employer is the expert on their business.

Employers can be involved in the MINDFUL EMPLOYER initiative without signing up to the Charter but many employers use it as a tangible display of their commitment to improving the working lives of their staff. The Charter is about working towards the principles of it not the immediate fulfilment of them – signing up is a step along a journey not the end of it. It's not a target nor a policy nor a set of standards. Being a Charter signatory doesn't mean 'getting it all right': but it does indicate a willingness to work towards better practice.

Reviewing the Charter
Support, training and assistance will be available from other MINDFUL EMPLOYERS and WorkWAYS to help implement and review commitment to it.

The Charter should be seen by others as a public and tangible commitment by the signatory that they are working towards the aspirations espoused within it. To that end, each Charter signatory will be asked to demonstrate that commitment. The review first takes place two years after signature. Such a review will reflect the general philosophy of the initiative: that of supporting employers in the recruitment and retention of staff who experience mental ill health. Download Reviewing the Charter and On the Way for more details.

Working Towards is an aid we have produced to help employers recognise good practice already in place, identify areas for improvement and plan how to work towards the aims of the Charter.

By signing up to the Charter an employer:

Shows their company is working towards putting its principles in to practice
Will be supported by other MINDFUL EMPLOYERS and supporting organisations
Receives a personalised Charter showing the company name and logo
Is able to use the MINDFUL EMPLOYER logo

The name MINDFUL EMPLOYER^® and the logo can only be used by Charter signatories and supporting organisations who have signed the Partnership Agreement. On signing up to the Charter, employers receive a personalised certificate and are entitled to display the MINDFUL EMPLOYER logo on literature, letterheadings, website, job advertisements and other material their business produces. Charter signatories will also receive posters to display on staff noticeboards etc - these can be viewed by clicking on the link above (printable copies are available to signatories).

Charter For Employers Who Are Positive About Mental Health

As an employer we recognise that:

People who have mental health issues may have experienced discrimination in recruitment and selection procedures. This may discourage them from seeking employment.
Whilst some people will acknowledge their experience of mental health issues in a frank and open way, others fear that stigma will jeopardise their chances of getting a job.
Given appropriate support, the vast majority of people who have experienced mental ill health continue to work successfully as do many with ongoing issues.

As an employer we aim to:

Show a positive and enabling attitude to employees and job applicants with mental health issues. This will include positive statements in local recruitment literature.
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.
Make it clear in any recruitment or occupational health check that people who have experienced mental health issues will not be discriminated against and that disclosure of a mental health problem will enable both employee and employer to assess and provide the right level of support or adjustment.
Not make assumptions that a person with a mental health problem will be more vulnerable to workplace stress or take more time off than any other employee or job applicant.
Provide non-judgemental and proactive support to individual staff who experience mental health issues.
Ensure all line managers have information and training about managing mental health in the workplace.

The Charter for Employers has been drawn from similar Charters being operated by a number of NHS Trusts around the UK, the Line Managers’ Resource: A Practical Guide to Managing & Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace and original material by Devon Partnership NHS Trust. It has been compiled in conjunction with and agreed by employers supporting the MINDFUL EMPLOYER initiative.

The Charter is about working towards the principles of it not the immediate fulfilment of them - signing up is a step along a journey not the end of it.

To sign the Charter - it is is completely voluntary - simply download the Information Pack and complete the 'Our Response' form

Click here for the list of Charter Signatories

Administration Fees

MINDFUL EMPLOYER is administered by WorkWAYS, part of Devon Partnership NHS Trust. The initiative, which has no specific funding of its own, has operated free of charge since it commenced in October 2004. The UK-wide popularity of the initiative and the need to maintain high standards is generating increased costs, particularly in relation to new Charter signatories and the process associated with the Charter Review. In conjunction with WorkWAYS and Devon Partnership NHS Trust, the MINDFUL EMPLOYER Council of Reference (see About Us) agreed to introduce fees to cover these administration costs from 1 April 2009.

The fees shown below will be non-refundable and are not a form of subscription, membership charge nor, except where described, payment for service. For both of the Administration Fees shown below, the number of employees refers to the actual number of paid staff (i.e. not based on full-time equivalent posts and not including volunteers).

NEW SIGNATORIES
The New Signatory Administration Fee covers provision of the Charter Pack (by e-mail), 5 printed copies of the Charter, sample leaflets and subsequent information and updates as provided by WorkWAYS.

New Signatory Administration Fee: £50 (up to 50 employees) £75 (50-250) £100 (250+)

REVIEWING THE CHARTER

All signatories are required to complete a Review two years after signing and every three years thereafter. The fee will be charged per Review not per year. The fee covers the request for, consideration of, and response to, the Review as described in the document On the Way.

Charter Review Administration Fee: £75 per Review (up to 50 employees) £110 per Review (50-250) £150 per Review (250+)

The due date for each Review is based upon the date shown on the Charter issued to each signatory. For example, an employer who signed the Charter in June 2007, will complete a Review in June 2009 then again in June 2012 etc.

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