Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what measures his Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.

The Cabinet Office is committed to helping its employees experiencing mental health problems and has a range of support services in place.

The Cabinet Office has signed up to the Time to Change pledge on mental health and our Employee Assistance Programme provides online support, counselling and a 24/7 telephone service.

Our Occupational Health Service helps line managers support employees with their mental health. The Department has also established a Listening Service, a confidential helpline resourced by staff who have been trained in active listening and emotional support.

The Department provides access to training for example in mindfulness and resilience. Cabinet Office staff are also supported by the central well-being service and staff networks (such as the WorkWell group and disability network), and the Department takes part in awareness campaigns.

The Cabinet Office provides a central well-being service to other departments including:

• supporting the Civil Service Health and Well-being and Disability Champions to meet the ambitions in the Talent Action Plan and the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper;
• providing policy and manager guidance to support the return to work of those with a mental health illness;
• central messaging in support of events such as World Mental Health Day;
• raising capability through Civil Service Learning training materials;
• supporting individuals with mental health-related workplace adjustments;
• equipping caseworkers to deal with complex mental health issues; and
• sharing and developing best practice.