City of Wolverhampton College has been re-awarded an accreditation for the work it does to protect and improve its employees’ mental health.
The college has been awarded the Mindful Employer ‘Charter for Employers Positive About Mental Health’ for a further two years in recognition of its commitment to supporting the mental wellbeing of staff and creating a supportive and open culture where colleagues feel able to talk about mental health confidently.
Mindful Employer, a UK-wide initiative launched in 2004 and run by Devon Partnership NHS Trust, provides employers with easy access to professional workplace mental health training, information and advice, and aims to help empower organisations to take a lead in supporting the mental wellbeing of staff.
In order to support its employees, the college has committed to provide non-judgemental and proactive support to staff experiencing mental ill health, not make assumptions about a person with a mental health condition and their ability to work, and support line managers in managing mental health in the workplace.
In addition, the college has pledged to make it clear that staff who have experienced mental ill health will not be discriminated against, to be positive and enabling towards job applicants with a mental health condition, and ensure it is fair in the recruitment of new staff in accordance with the Equality Act (2010).
Karen O’Reilly, assistant principal for people engagement at the college, said: “Staff are the backbone of the organisation and without them we would not be able to provide the excellent level of education that we offer to our students.
“We are delighted to have been re-accredited with the Mindful Employer Charter which is official recognition of our commitment to protecting and improving our employees’ mental health and to offering support and the necessary workplace adjustments to those who may need it.”
