Mindful Employer Charter

Brentwood Borough Council has signed the Mindful Employer Charter for Employers who are positive about Mental Health.

As an employer, we recognize 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 going 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 issue will be more vulnerable to workplace stress or take more time off than any other employee or job applicant.
• Provide non-judgmental 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.

Visit the Mindful Employer website for more information.