Strategy and Policy

A comprehensive stress risk management programme should include:

  • A suitable policy
  • Risk assessment and evaluation of risk
  • Action planning
  • Information and training
  • Systems for individuals to raise concerns
  • Case management
  • Monitoring and review systems

In developing and implementing a stress risk management programme there are key principles that need to be followed to ensure appropriateness and effectiveness.
These include:

  • Strategic planning and tailoring the approach to meet the needs of the organisation
  • Establishing effective leadership
  • Process planning and communication
  • Recognising the role of line managers and ensuring they have the skills and time available for effective implementation
  • Involving employees at all stages to encourage ownership at local level
  • Raising awareness of responsibilities of all staff and ensuring they have the skills to fulfil them

Care needs to be taken to consider why you want to develop a stress management programme (business drivers), what you expect to achieve (desired outcomes), and what systems would work within your organisation (programme design that is ‘fit for purpose’). We work closely with Senior Managers and other stakeholders to establish a good foundation for programme design and implementation.

We strongly recommend the formation of a steering group (represented by different areas in the organisation) to oversee the process. This group has the benefits of:

  • Establishing ownership of the process internally, putting an infrastructure in place so there is not ‘dependency’ on the consultant for effective implementation but rather acting as advisor. We would usually have greater involvement during the planning and risk assessment phases, reducing over time when we would perhaps attend quarterly or bi annual steering group meetings to support on going development and review of the process.
  • Ensuring effective planning, taking into account other activities within the organisation
  • Ensuring that the process is appropriate for all areas of the organisation
  • Promoting effective communication of the process

The Strategy and Policy services we provide include:

  • Strategic planning sessions
  • Steering group training and action planning
  • Policy development
  • Policy review

Strategic planning sessions

These half day sessions are usually targeted at Senior Managers and include information on legal requirements, the business case, programme design options, and good practice case studies. This ‘information’ component is followed by discussions to explore why a stress management programme is being developed (business drivers), what is expected (desired outcomes), and what systems would work best in the organisation, including who should be in the steering group (programme design that is ‘fit for purpose’). This session results in an action plan.

Steering group training and action planning

We provide training for an internal steering group to help them facilitate the risk management process. This group would ordinarily consist of representatives from Senior management, Occupational health, Health and safety, Human resources, Staff representatives/trade unions and Operational areas. This training aims to familiarise them with the HSE Standards, good practice and the stages of the risk management process. The 1 day training course guides the group through each step of the process, concluding with an action planning session to establish how each of the steps will be implemented to maximise effectiveness and impact.

Policy development

If you do not have a policy and programme in place, we can help you develop effective policies on Stress at work or Mental health and wellbeing. The Policies are developed in line with good practice and in consultation with relevant stakeholders to ensure that they are appropriate for the needs and culture of the organisation. We have varying levels of input in this process from writing policies and facilitating the consultation process to simple review of draft policies.

Policy review

Many organisations already have a policy and programme in place, but are concerned whether this is suitable and sufficient, in line with HSE standards or industry standards. We are often asked to conduct an independent review of policies and their effectiveness. This is a comprehensive review, essentially exploring what are you doing so far, how well it is working, what you can do in the future to ensure employees stay healthy and your business does, too.

This would ordinarily involve:

  • Discussions with senior managers and those overseeing programme development and implementation
  • A desk top review of policy, risk management, monitoring data and review procedures
  • Assessment of embedding by gaining feedback from managers and employees.

A review of this kind informs further development of the policy and procedures.