BT Launches Mental Health Service
The CWU's Andy Kerr Deputy General Secretary (T&FS), has written to all Branches within BT providing details of the employer's new mental health service. LTB822/10 opens:
"BT has launched a Mental Health Service and BT employees can be referred to the service by their managers following an OHS recommendation.
The service is provided through a Trust funded by BT and delivered by Rehabworks. It provides a range of support services including, where clinically indicated, access to either computer based cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) guided self help or, in some circumstances, telephone or face to face CBT."
The LTB comments:
"This is a welcome development as there are often long waiting lists to access CBT through the NHS whilst at the same time it has been found to be very effective in treating many of the most common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. The aim is not to provide support for chronic problems but to provide early and effective support for common mental health problems. That support should help people remain in work."
Full details of the service including the FAQs for managers and individuals can be found within the attachments to the LTB.
Andy goes on to say in his LTB:
"The new service was soft launched earlier this year and will be fully available from now on. If Branch Officers have cases where they believe this sort of support might be appropriate then they should ask the member to speak to their line manager.
As part of the service a named case manager will produce a brief management plan. This will not contain any clinical information but will provide feedback on the employee’s progress and work capability including proposing suitable adjustments. An example is included in the attached pack. As part of accessing the service the individual will give consent to such a report being produced. They can see the report in advance but this will be very basic. They can withdraw their consent at any time and stop accessing the full service.
By exception an individual can refuse consent for Rehabworks to communicate with the particular line manager. Rehabworks will ask if they will nominate an alternative contact point within BT (this could be the second line, HR or ER) with whom they can liaise to facilitate their return to work. If no suitable contact point is identified then the employee will only be eligible for some of the interventions.
The existing Employee Assistance Programme which employees can access directly and anonymously without going through the OHS or line management chain will remain in place. Feedback from Branch Officers will be very welcome."
The complete LTB can be downloaded here
Source:CWU
