Shift are taking requests for copies of Working it Out, a new DVD-based resource for employers.

Working it Out is a comprehensive new resource pack designed to help raise awareness of mental health conditions in the
workplace and provide employers with practical advice and guidance on how best to support and manage a member of staff should they become unwell.

The DVD, free to employers and organisations based in England, includes a brand new set of short employment films with accompanying training notes and other resources.

The Working it Out DVD contains:

Working It Out employment films

The five short films show employees recounting their real-life experiences of mental health conditions within the workplace, mixed with dramatic reconstructions. The films also feature managers who describe how they effectively managed and supported their staff using best practice approaches.

Training notes that accompany the ‘Working it Out’ employment films. (PDF format)

These notes are to be used in conjunction with the five Working it Out film modules. They suggest discussion topics and activities for a facilitated training session.

The Shift Line Managers’ Resource (PDF format)

A 32-page practical guide to managing and supporting people with mental health problems in the workplace. It is recommended that this resource is used in conjunction with the training notes.

‘Life in the Office’ employment films.

Shift’s original employment films. A series fictional short films designed to raise awareness and encourage discussion of mental health in the workplace. The films also include an interview with one of the actors, who talks about his own personal experience of mental health problems.

Personal Stories.

Short film clips in which people talk about their real-life experience of mental health conditions at work and what has helped them to manage their condition and remain in work.

Working it Out is being made available for World Mental Health Day and will be distributed through-out England until Shift ends in March 2011. To request a free copy of the DVD, order them directly online by going to http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

You can also view the films and resources online at: http://shift.org.uk/workingitout

Tags: shift, reviewpanel, employment, workingitout, lifeintheoffice, lmr

The Shift Review Panel have published independent reviews of two new employment resources from Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Trust.

The Shift Review Panel assesses the quality and impact of materials designed to help employers promote mental wellbeing and manage mental ill health in the workplace. The panel is funded by Shift, but operates independently.

You can download the full review of the resource for all employees here
And download the full review of the resource for managers here

Find out more about the Shift Review Panel.

Tags: shift, reviewpanel, scmh, employment

The Shift Review Panel have published their independent review of the Mental Health Foundation's What Works for You? booklet for employers.

The Shift Review Panel assesses the quality and impact of materials designed to help employers promote mental wellbeing and manage mental ill health in the workplace. The panel is funded by Shift, but operates independently.

The review found that What Works for You?:

• explains simple steps people at work can take to support a colleague who is experiencing a mental health problem. It is easy-to-read and engaging and the advice is practical and relevant.
• It includes a short explanation about mental health, and more detail about some common mental health problems.
• There is practical advice about how to talk to someone, listening tips, responding in a crisis and keeping in touch when someone is off sick with a mental health problem.
• The brief section about what you can do as a manager provides some practical guidance on how to deal with someone they think has a mental health problem. It would be helpful to acknowledge in this section that there is much more that you need to do as a manager to support mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.
• Overall, the booklet could provide a useful part of an organisations’ mental health management programme, but would probably need to be tailored to each organisation – for example, procedures around reasonable adjustments and Occupational Health advice would differ; and the image on the front would need to be less ‘industrial’ for some organisations. The resource should be made more generic, or alternatively targeted more specifically.
• The leaflet could be useful as a stand-alone item to help ensure people experiencing mental health problems get valuable support from their colleagues.
  

You can download the full review of What Works for You? here

Visit the What Works for You? page on the MHF website

Find out more about the Shift Review Panel here

Tags: shift, reviewpanel, scmh, employment, mhf, mentalhealthfoundation

The Shift Review Panel have published their independent review of Shaw Trust's Tackle Mental Health website.

The Shift Review Panel assesses the quality and impact of materials designed to help employers promote mental wellbeing and manage mental ill health in the workplace. The panel is funded by Shift, but operates independently.

The review found that the Tackle Mental Health website:

• Is an excellent one-stop shop packed full of practical information and easy-to-use solutions to help managers to support staff who are dealing with mental health issues.
• Is very well designed and easy to use.
• The website is aimed at employers of any size, and from all sectors.
• The content is factually correct and evidence-based.
• There is a comprehensive section about the DDA and employers’ legal duties related to mental health issues in the workplace, and a full explanation about reasonable adjustments.
• There is a section on creating a healthy workplace, including information about HSE Management Standards and how to tackle stress at work; and guidance on developing a mental health policy. However, there are some gaps in evidence-based good practice here – the section could be revised when the NICE Guidelines on this are published in October 2009.
• Overall a valuable website providing practical and affordable solutions for employers and employees and helping raise awareness about mental health issues in the workplace.
  

You can download the full review of the Tackle Mental Health website here

Visit Shaw Trust's Tackle Mental Health website

Find out more about the Shift Review Panel here

Tags: shift, reviewpanel, scmh, employment, shawtrust

The Shift Review Panel's first set of reviews are now available.

The Shift Review Panel assesses the quality and impact of materials designed to help employers promote mental wellbeing and manage mental ill health in the workplace. The panel is funded by Shift, but operates independently.

Find out more about the Shift Review Panel here

Tags: shift, reviewpanel, scmh, employment