Programme
- Day One
-
Wednesday 8 November
- 08.55
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Registration
- 09.00
-
Welcome and introduction
Dr Nerys Williams
- 09.10
-
UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH AND ITS IMPACT ON WORK
Dr Paul Litchfield
- What do we mean by mental health?
- The key drivers of wellbeing
- The relationship with business performance
- How to “sell” the case for mental health promotion into a business
- 10.25
-
Coffee
- 10.40
-
EVIDENCE REVIEW OF WORKPLACE INTERVENTIONS
Dr John Ballard
- Prevalence of mental health problems
- Effect of COVID-19 on mental health
- Evidence review – what works in:
- The prevention of mental health problems at work
- Recovery, absence and return to work
- What to avoid – what doesn’t work?
- 11.45
-
DEVISING A WORKPLACE STRATEGY
Dr Paul Litchfield
- The changing world of work
- Why the H&S approach doesn’t work
- ‘Mental health policies’ – how effective are they?
- Embracing the new paradigm
- Good practice
- Evaluation and reporting
- 12.45
-
Q&A
Your chance to put your questions to our expert speakers, Dr Paul Litchfield, Dr John Ballard and Dr Nerys Williams - 13.00
-
Lunch
- 14.00
-
RISK ASSESSMENT
Jennifer Webster
- HSE stress management standards
- Evidence base
- Using the standards at organisation and individual level
- Does hybrid working make a difference?
- Case studies – using the standards in practice
- HSE stress management standards
- 14.45
-
Tea
- 15.05
-
ENSURING LEGAL COMPLIANCE
Prof Diana Kloss
Outline of relevant law, including:
- Consent and confidentiality
- Mental capacity
- Employer’s duty of care to prevent psychiatric injury: criminal and civil liability
- Fitness for work, pre-employment and in employment
- Disability discrimination and mental impairment
- Fitness to attend a disciplinary meeting
- 16.15
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Q&A
- 16.30
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Course assignment
- 16.50
-
Close of day one
- Day 2
-
Thursday 9 November 2023
- 8.55
-
Registration
- 9.00
-
Introduction to the biopsychosocial model
Dr Nerys Williams
- 9.30
-
The OH consultation: best practice
Dr Donna Morgans
- The management referral
- The consultation itself – including consent and a mental state examination
- Taking notes
- Discussing appropriate disclosure of condition to manager
- Risk of suicide – appropriate response
- Where a danger to others is suspected
- 10.45
-
Coffee
- 11.05
-
ASSESSING FITNESS FOR WORK
Dr Donna Morgans
- Psychosocial considerations
- Screening questionnaires and other tools
- Safety-critical roles
- Healthcare workers – impact of mental health on their fitness to practice
- Medication
- Liaising with the GP/specialist
- When to refer on
- 12.05
-
ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE – Organisational response
Dr Donna Morgans
- Substance misuse policies
- Testing in the workplace (and reasons for testing)
- Advising on fitness for work
- 12.45
-
Lunch
- 13.45
-
ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE – Supporting the individual
Annika Lindberg
- Understanding substance addiction
- Recognising the signs of alcohol and/or substance misuse
- Screening tools for use in OH
- Advice to managers (including when to refer on)
- Handling difficult conversations
- Intervention principles and outcomes
- 14.40
-
Tea
- 15.00
-
REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS
Dr Nerys Williams- Aims and evidence base for adjustments
- Review, timescales and when to stop
- Agreement and role of clients
- Getting buy-in from line managers
- 15.40
-
RESPONDING TO TRAUMA
Paul Anthony
- Reactions to trauma – the risk factors
- Post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions explained
- Can PTSD be prevented?
- What works?
- OH and organisational responses
- 16.55
-
Final questions
- 17.00
-
Close of day two
-
- Day 3
-
Friday 10 November 2023
- 8.55
-
Registration and coffee
- 9.00
-
HOW SHOULD OH PROFESSIONALS APPROACH CASES?
Prof Max Henderson
A look at the common cases that may present at work – and how OH should respond to them
- What questions should OH be asking?
- Warning signs and red flags
- Assessing impairment – tools and questionnaires
- Medication and/or psychological therapy
- Implications for ongoing employment or return to work
- Understanding patterns of recovery
- Timings for return to work
- Likelihood of recurrence
- Managing self-harm and suicide
- Liaison with specialists and when to refer on
This session will focus on the following conditions:
- Common mental health conditions e.g. depression, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder
- Medically unexplained symptoms/syndromes
- Autistic spectrum disorder
- Co-morbidity
- 13.00
-
Lunch
- 14.00
-
Session continued
- 15.00
-
Tea
- 15.15
-
KEEPING PEOPLE WORKING PRODUCTIVELY AND ENSURING SUCCESSFUL RETURN TO WORK
Dr Sally Coomber
- Creating effective return-to-work plans
- Preparing the report for management
- Appropriate and effective reasonable adjustments including phased return to work; temporary adjustment of duties; working hours or patterns – impact of medication; flexible working; working from home; support with workload/from others
- Wellness and Recovery Action Plans and early warning signs (the ‘relapse signature’)
- 16.00
-
SUMMARY OF LEARNING AND FURTHER USEFUL RESOURCES
Dr Nerys Williams
- 16.10
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Final questions, and queries on the assignment
- 16.20
-
Close of course
Benefits of attending
How will gaining this qualification benefit you and your organisation?
You will gain:
- A comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of different strategies/interventions that organisations can adopt – so that you can review what will work in your workplace
- Detailed knowledge and practical skills to manage specific cases including an in-depth understanding of different conditions
- The ability to assess the severity of a condition and its impact on a person’s job – so that you can recommend the best interventions to put in place for a particular case
- Enhanced skills and knowledge to use during OH consultations and in giving advice to managers
- In-depth understanding of reasonable adjustments in practice
- Advice on tools, resources and action plans
- Guidance on the relevant law
Gaining this qualification will help you to employ the right strategies and interventions to successfully manage mental health in your workplace and create a more engaged and productive workforce.
Who is the course designed for?
The course is designed for OH professionals. Other professionals with responsibility for OH and/or the mental health of employees may also benefit from attending.
Assignment and certification
Delegates must attend at least 80% of the course. Following the course, students who successfully complete an assignment, demonstrating their understanding of the theory and skills taught in the course, will be awarded the Certificate in Managing Mental Health at Work.
About Brunel University London
This qualification is organised by The At Work Partnership with the support of Brunel University London.
Brunel University London’s College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences runs the NMC accredited Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) for entry on Part 3 of the NMC register for three pathways namely OH, Health Visiting and School Nursing. Part 3 registration is sought by many OH employers. The College prides itself on delivering high quality professional and public health education in line with the University’s mission “to bring benefit to society through excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer”.
Find out more at:
https://www.brunel.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/Specialist-Community-Public-Health-Nursing-PGDip-and-MSc
https://www.brunel.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/Specialist-Community-Public-Health-Nursing-BSc
