FOI Request - Mental Health At Work

Request 101002428986

I am writing on behalf of UNISON Scotland to request information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

For four of the questions I am seeking information for the most recent year available. It would be helpful if your reply could indicate which year your information relates to, i.e. whether this is the last full calendar year (2019) or the last full financial year (2018-19).

Please can you let me know:

1. Does your organisation have a mental health at work action plan?

Please advise, for the most recent full year available (calendar or financial):

2. The total number of employees recorded as taking sickness absence.
3. The number of employees taking sickness absence who listed work related stress as a reason for absence.
4. The number of individual stress risk assessments undertaken.
5. The number of group stress risk assessments undertaken.

Response 08-07-2020

1. No - a mental health action plan was under development however has been put on hold as we respond to the Covid pandemic.
The council has a Mental Health Policy and Health at Work Policy which outlines our responsibilities and provides guidance and information for managers and employees on how we manage mental health within the workplace.  We also have an employee guide.  These are supported by the provision of our Occupational Health Provider and Employee Assistance Provider who provide a range of services to our employees.  Employees are signposted to local and national services and these services are published on our Council Intranet . 

2.  There were 6737 recorded absences from 01-04-2019 – 31-03-2020  (including staff who were recorded off more than once).

3. In accordance with Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 we can advise that the requested information is not held.We do not record specifically work related stress therefore we cannot provide these figures.

4. In accordance with Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 we can advise that the requested information is not held. We do not record this information however stress risk assessments are a tool which may be applied to support mental health and health at work.

5. In accordance with Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 we can advise that the requested information is not held. We do not record this information however stress risk assessments are a tool which may be applied to support mental health and health at work.