One of the key recommendations from Mind’s research is to have good open and proactive line manager conversations around workload, priorities and wellbeing. The resources below are aimed at facilitating these good quality line manager discussions.
Mind
Mind have signposted a number of tools below that support line managers and staff to have good, open conversations.
Guides to Wellness Action Plans – guides for line managers, employees and working from home/remote working to facilitate discussion. The guides can be integrated into one-to-one meetings, appraisals etc and for staff less confident in conversations around wellbeing and mental health they essentially provide a script to follow.
Understanding what is expected of them and having a manageable workload are key factors influencing staff wellbeing and Mind recommend open and honest conversations should be an essential part of regular catch ups/one-to-one meetings and inclusion and use of a template reinforces this requirement.
- Mind and CIPD People Manager’s Guide – Section 8 covers how to support staff to stay well at work by encouraging conversations and provides a good overview of Mind’s advice on the subject.
- Supporting employee resilience - guidance for line managers - Section 2 focuses on manager behaviours that impact resilience such as building positive relationships with teams.
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust
The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust is a mental health charity which aims to help people understand and talk openly about mental health so that young people, and those who support them, are equipped to maintain and improve their mental health and wellbeing and to have the confidence to seek help when they need it.
- How to have a conversation about mental health – guidance aimed at managers about having an open conversation about mental health which is central to supporting employees with their mental health.
- How to spot the signs and symptoms of mental health difficulties – guidance on spotting the signs and symptoms of mental health difficulties which can assist managers to determine when to intervene.
Education Support Partnership
The Education Support Partnership (ESP) is a charity providing mental health and wellbeing support services to all education staff and organisations.
- How to talk to colleagues about mental health and wellbeing – general advice for managers and staff on having open staff welfare discussions.
- Wellbeing of higher education staff – this section includes a recording of a discussion between Sinead McBrearty (CEO of ESP) and Professor Gail Kinsman (Birkbeck, University of London), Occupational Health Psychologist. They discuss the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on HE staff and how to support them.
Return to section homepage
Page updated 4 April 2022
