Mindful Employer is a national scheme to provide support for employers in retaining and recruiting staff who experience stress, anxiety, depression and other mental ill health.
It provides employers with practical tools, resources, techniques and useful contacts to maximise positive mental health at work.
With the right support, people with mental health issues can and do stay in work. York College signed up to the Mindful Employer charter in March 2013. More information on the Mindful Employer scheme is available on the Mindful Employer website.
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.
- While 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 Equality Act 2010, 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.
York College has been awarded the Disability Confident Symbol and is committed to interviewing all applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the job.
If you are a disabled person and are invited for interview, please contact Human Resources in advance to let us know if you require any special arrangements to enable to you attend and participate in the interview and selection process, and we will make the necessary arrangements to accommodate the request if we can reasonably do so.
We are committed to making any necessary reasonable adjustments to our employment practices and premises, to ensure disabled people are not substantially disadvantaged.
How York College supports staff with a disability:
The Human Resources department provides support to current or prospective members of staff who have a disability or long-term health condition. This support includes:
- Adherence to the principles and commitments of the Disability Confident Scheme and Mindful Employer Charter to ensure disabled people are supported by the College and treated fairly at every stage of their selection and employment;
- The provision of application forms in alternative formats;
- Provision of BSL interpreters for job interviews and meetings;
- Occupational Health who advise and support staff who are experiencing difficulties at work.
- Free access to counselling
- Liaison with specialist organisations e.g. Access to Work to provide support for staff with a disability or long-term health condition.
