The report of the Director of Workforce and Organisation Development (MHCC) is enclosed.

The Board received a report from the Director of Workforce and Organisation

Development, MHCC and the Director of Population, Health and Wellbeing. The report provided and overview of progress in the delivery of a locality based approach to improving workplace health and wellbeing systems and outcomes for the combined health and social care workforce within the city.

The Director of Population, Health and Wellbeing introduced the report.

The Director of Workforce and Organisation Development, MHCC also addressed the board on the work that has taken place since the presentation of the first report in July 2017. Reference was made to the report appendix which provided progress and next steps on the 2017 Baseline Assessment report recommendations.

The Work and Skills Lead officer (MCC) reported that an assessment tool had been developed for use by employers and was ideal for integrated health and social care working. This approach had been agreed and supported by a wide number of individual organisations.

The Chair invited questions from the Board

A board member commented that the wellbeing of GP’s should also be considered and asked if there had been an outreach to independent organisations in view of the shortage of GP’s and the strain on the current service.

It was reported that GP’s could refer themselves or be referred to the Manchester Fit for Work service and the Working Well Early Help Service, as employees to support and enable them to stay in work and avoid long term illness. It was reported that extending the Employer Assistance Programme would be considered, as a possible option, across MHCC and the City Council.

Councillor Craig referred to issue of mental health and mental wellbeing across all employment sectors within the city and sought assurance that information learned from this area is helping to inform the mental health commissioning strategy. Officers were asked if recommendation 5 of the report could be reconsidered and looked at in a broader context than just employee assistance programmes to provide a wider and more generalised access to mental health services and enhancement of services

already commissioned.

It was reported that programmes currently exist across Manchester in conjunction with other GM Colleagues, this will include the commissioning of a specialist employment service in partnership with the GMCA and the GM Health and Care Partnership. Also, tools put in place by employers were helping with collective learning to help and support employees with mental health conditions and develop support to help unemployed residents.

A member referred to the health issues of staff and the initiatives that already exist that provide social value.

It was reported that the organisations are already taking part and offer activities to employees to help support employee health and the recruitment.

Further information would be included in the next update report to the Board.

The Chair stated that the work referred to in the report is important and indicates that there is an ambition to expand the work to both the population and the workforce and currently the organisations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16