PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Northern Ireland Office: Staff (12 December 2016)

The Northern Ireland Office is able to access a number of services, including welfare support and employee assistance programmes, through our links with the Ministry of Justice. Specific support for staff who have mental health issues include:

• An independent Employee Assistance Provision that provides confidential counselling sessions for employees, 24 hour telephone support, coaching for managers, mediation and group counselling;
• Access to an internet Wellbeing Zone which contains wellbeing advice, fact sheets and videos on managing stress, healthy eating and healthy lifestyle choices. This is also part of our Employee Assistance Provision;
• An Occupational Health provider that offers medical advice for managers supporting employees with mental health issues;
• An attendance management system that is aligned with our wellbeing strategy and encourages proactive interventions for employees with mental health issues including prompt Occupational Health referrals with a view to ensuring that supportive measures and reasonable adjustments are identified and implemented promptly;
• An individual Stress Assessment process; and
• Toolkits for managers which recognise the links between musculoskeletal illnesses and mental health conditions.