Edinburgh South West MP Scott Arthur has secured new detail from the Department for Work and Pensions on workplace mental-health support in professional services.
Arthur asked what engagement the department had undertaken with financial, legal, accountancy and other professional-services employers at every level of their organisations.
DWP minister Lilian Greenwood said the government was implementing the recommendations of the independent Keep Britain Working review, including a recognised healthy-workplace standard, stronger employer-facing health provision and incentives for adoption.
A volunteer “Vanguard” group includes employers from the legal, insurance, financial and accountancy sectors. It is testing ways to help people with long-term health conditions and disabilities, including mental-health conditions, remain in employment.
The work includes a mental-health deep dive covering employer training, early intervention and flexible working practices. A workplace standard is being developed in partnership with the British Standards Institution.
Greenwood said DWP teams were also promoting Access to Work, Able Futures and Disability Confident to improve recruitment, adjustments and retention for people with health conditions.
