EFD welcomes government plans on employment and mental health

7th December 2009

Employers' Forum on Disability today (7 December) comments on several major government announcements published today on mental health and employment. These are:

• ‘Working our way to better mental health: a framework for action’,

• ‘Realising ambitions’ (The Perkins review),

• ‘Work, Recovery and Inclusion’, a cross-government delivery plan to help the PSA 16 mental health target group, and response to the Perkins review,

• ‘New horizons: a shared vision for mental health’, a cross-government report on improving mental well-being in England for people of all ages.

Susan Scott-Parker, EFD’s chief executive, said: “We’re pleased that government sees mental health and employment as an important topic. It’s important that both employers and people with mental health conditions get the right support to make the most of the talents of people with mental health conditions.

“We know from our work with our members, who employ around 20% of the UK’s workforce, that disability confident organisations want to recruit and retain people with mental health conditions, but don’t know how best to do it. That’s why we provide training and publications that give practical advice on how to get it right on mental health.

“We welcome the flexibility around Access to Work and how it might be used to provide more support for people with mental health conditions. It is a well-regarded scheme amongst employers, but has yet to be widely used for adjustments for mental health conditions.

Commenting on the New Horizons report, Susan Scott-Parker said: “The public sector needs to lead by example. New Horizons recognises that success will be achieved if all departments have deliverable targets on mental health. We are pleased that ‘New Horizons’ and ‘Work, Recovery and Inclusion’ aim to do this. EFD is working with our public sector members to help them achieve progress for people with mental health conditions who are covered by PSA 16.

The government also announced pilots of two new policies:

• A free Occupational Health advice line for small and medium businesses, and

• Every JobCentre Plus (JCP) district is to have a mental health employment coordinator, dedicated to helping JCP customers with mental health conditions find work.

Susan Scott-Parker added: “It is right that SMEs are targeted with the Occupational Health (OH) advice line, as they are key to success. OH works well when the providers have an understanding of the workplace and what adjustments are available, rather than just being experts in a person’s medical condition. We very much hope the new OH advice line will reflect this."

Ends

Notes to editors

Media enquiries, please contact:

Brenda Otema, Communications & Marketing Officer
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: brenda.otema@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020

About Employers' Forum on Disability

Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 300 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.

www.efd.org.uk