Leading by example Tuesday, February 1, 2011 - 11:56

Despite progress being made to improve participation and achievement in learning for people with mental health difficulties, the mental health and wellbeing of staff working in the FE sector is still a largely overlooked issue.

Leading by example?, a joint NIACE, UCU and LSIS conference, provided a policy context to promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in FE and promoted the business and social case for it. The conference also examined how a change of focus in relation to mental health can be put into practice by all staff, as well as leaders and managers, and throughout a learning and skills organisation.

Dr Peter Lavender, NIACE Deputy Chief Executive and Chair of the conference, said:

"The arguments that we must do more to promote positive mental health in the FE workforce are compelling. We know that work is good for mental health and wellbeing, and we also know that the health and wellbeing of employees is crucial to the success of any business."

"Employees are at their most productive and creative when they are in an environment that supports their mental health and wellbeing and even a small investment of time and/or money can lead to many benefits. People with mental health difficulties are hugely discriminated against in the labour market and as a sector we are increasingly concerned with the development of skills for learners to get into and get on at work. We cannot hope to challenge the inequities of the labour market if we cannot show by example how to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for all. To do that makes good business sense."

The arguments that we must do more to promote positive mental health in the FE workforce are compelling. We know that work is good for mental health and wellbeing, and we also know that the health and wellbeing of employees is crucial to the success of any business."

Dr Peter Lavender, NIACE Deputy Chief Executive

The conference also launched a new website - www.mhfe.org.uk - developed by NIACE and the Skills Funding Agency (SAF). The website will support people with an interest in learning and skills and mental health, offering news and policy updates, interaction through forums and access to free webinars.

Key speakers at the conference included:

• Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work, Cross-Government Health, Work and Well-being Strategy Unit;

• Sam Mellor, Head of Healthy FE Programme, Department of Health;

• Michele Sutton, Principal, Bradford College and Chair of the Healthy FE Steering Group, Excellence Gateway, LSIS;

• Stephen Court, Senior Research Officer, UCU;

• John Bamford, Health and Safety Officer, UCU;

• Helen Pettifor, Director for Programmes, LSIS; and

• Sasha Callaghan, UCU NEC member and Chair of the Disability Equality Implementation Group, LLUK.