Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) physical and (b) mental wellbeing of staff employed in his Department.

In November 2016, DWP launched ‘Working Well Together’, its Health and Wellbeing Strategy for all colleagues. The strategy fully aligns to the Civil Service health and wellbeing strategic priorities and DWP’s ‘Keeping Safe’ health and Safety strategy.

Through Working Well Together, DWP takes a multi layered approach to the physical and mental wellbeing of its people by building on a culture of education, prevention and early intervention. The strategy aligns with DWP’s prevention and safety risk management programmes centred on minimising psychological as well as physical harm in the workplace.

To improve both the physical and mental wellbeing of its people, DWP has:

• First class support services including Employee Assistance Provider, Occupational Health, Physiotherapy, Eyecare, in addition to Stress Reduction Plans, Wellness Action Plans, Workplace Adjustment Passports and other products
• Regularly runs campaigns and interactive broadcasts on topics such as back care awareness, mental health awareness, cancer awareness, amongst others, through an annual Calendar of Health and Wellbeing Activity available for all colleagues to engage in
• Appointed a Disability, Health and Wellbeing Champion at Board level
• Built health and wellbeing into DWP’s leadership framework for all colleagues to bring into their key work objectives/performance management
• Encourages that conversations take place around mental health and wellbeing as part of regular one-to-one’s
• Mandates Health and Safety training for all colleagues and DSE assessments
• Encourages people to be proactive and seek professional advice on managing health and wellbeing before symptoms arise
• Over 550 Health and Wellbeing Advocates at local level, in addition to trained Mental Health First Aiders and Physical First Aiders
• A new pro-active Stress at Work Policy launched on 1 November 2017
• A bespoke online interactive Health and Wellbeing Zone accessible 24/7 with health and wellbeing information, advice and support services
• A Mediation service
• A range of people policies including Grievance, Harassment and Bullying, Disciplinary and Whistleblowing

Additionally, the Department has recently been accredited with a Disability Confident Leader award, the highest possible accolade for a Disability Confident employer, and is the first large government department to achieve this recognition. This is in addition to being awarded the RoSPA Gold award for the 8^th year running, for commitment to and management of health and safety in the workplace.