Mental Health Policy¶
| Document Reference | POL_HSQE_29 |
|---|---|
| Revision | 1 |
| Issue Date | 4 May 2026 |
| Next Review | 4 May 2027 |
| Status | Uncontrolled when printed |
Purpose¶
A M Water Services Ltd recognises that mental health is as important as physical health. This policy sets out our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone — directors, employees, subcontractors and visitors — can talk about mental wellbeing without stigma, knows where to turn for support, and is not left to struggle alone. It complements POL_HSQE_26 Welfare (which addresses welfare provisions) and RA_HO_08 Stress & Wellbeing.
Scope¶
This policy applies to all employees, directors, labour-supply subcontractors and visitors to A M Water Services Ltd premises and sites, covering all work activities including water main installations, self-lay schemes, grab operations, emergency call-out work, lone working and office-based activities at our Northampton headquarters.
Legal Requirements¶
This policy supports our duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (sections 2 and 3), the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (regulation 3 — risk assessment) and the Equality Act 2010 (mental-health conditions can amount to a disability for which reasonable adjustments must be considered).
Policy Statement¶
A M Water Services Ltd commits to:
- Treating mental health on a par with physical health — the same duty of care, the same conversations, the same willingness to make adjustments.
- Reducing stigma — talking openly about mental health is encouraged at all levels, starting with the Directors.
- Identifying risk — work-related stress is risk-assessed in RA_HO_08 Stress & Wellbeing and revisited at each Management Review.
- Providing support — Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) are accessible, signposting routes are clear, and time off for mental-health appointments is treated like any other medical appointment.
- Acting on what we learn — incidents involving mental health, near-misses linked to fatigue or stress, and patterns of absence are reviewed and inform RA / TBT updates.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) cover at AMWS¶
| Role | Trained MHFA | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Site Supervisor | Jason May | Trained 2024; refresher due 2027 |
| Director — HR/Admin | Leanne Mason | Trained 2024; refresher due 2027 |
Either MHFA can be approached confidentially, in person or by phone, by any AMWS worker. The MHFA's role is to listen non-judgmentally, signpost to professional support, and (with consent) help the worker access workplace adjustments where appropriate.
Signposting routes¶
| Concern | First port of call | Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Day-to-day work stress / workload | Site Supervisor (Jason May) | Director (Leanne Mason) |
| Personal mental-health crisis | Trained MHFA (Jason or Leanne) | Samaritans 116 123 (24/7, free) |
| Bereavement, family events | Director (Leanne Mason) | MHFA support |
| Substance use / dependency | Director (Aaron Mason) under POL_HSQE_02 Alcohol & Drugs | GP, Frank (talktofrank.com) |
| Suicidal thoughts | Samaritans 116 123 (24/7) | A&E or call 999 in immediate crisis |
| GP-route support | Worker's own GP | Self-refer NHS Talking Therapies (online) |
Each AMWS van pack carries a credit-card-sized signposting card with the same information.
Reasonable adjustments¶
When a worker discloses a mental-health condition (in confidence to a Director or MHFA), AMWS commits to:
- Discussing what's getting in the way of work
- Considering practical adjustments — reduced hours, flexible start times, temporary withdrawal from on-call rotation, reduced travel, change of pairing on site
- Reviewing the agreement at agreed intervals
- Documenting the agreement only with the worker's consent (kept confidentially in the HR file)
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) — under decision¶
An EAP would provide all AMWS workers with confidential 24/7 telephone counselling, structured short-term therapy, and legal/financial guidance, typically for £5–15 per employee per month with providers such as Health Assured, Vitality, or Hospital Saturday Fund.
Decision pending with the Managing Director (gap-closure tracker item #13). One of:
- Option A: Enrol in a low-cost EAP — extends support beyond the in-house MHFA cover.
- Option B: Document a rationale for not having one — e.g. small team size, MHFA cover already providing first-line support, NHS Talking Therapies route signposted.
The decision and the rationale will be recorded in the next Management Review (SOP 6.4) and reflected back into this policy at next revision.
Connection to other AMWS controls¶
| Linked control | Purpose |
|---|---|
| POL_HSQE_26 — Welfare Policy | Physical welfare provisions, on-site facilities |
| POL_HSQE_02 — Alcohol & Drugs | Substance-use pathway is part of the wellbeing picture |
| POL_HSQE_15 — Grievance | Channel for workplace concerns including bullying / harassment |
| POL_HSQE_05 — Anti-Bullying & Harassment | Mental-health risk factor — addressed in its own policy |
| POL_HSQE_27 — Whistleblowing | Confidential channel where formal grievance is not appropriate |
| RA_HO_08 — Stress & Wellbeing | Risk assessment for work-related stress |
| RA_HO_18 — Fatigue Management | Fatigue is a mental-health risk factor |
Confidentiality¶
Conversations with MHFAs or Directors about mental health are treated in confidence. They will only be shared further with the worker's explicit consent — except where there is an immediate risk to the worker or to others, in which case the Directors will follow the AMWS duty-of-care pathway and signpost to emergency services.
Review¶
This policy is reviewed annually or sooner if:
- A workplace incident raises a mental-health concern
- The MHFA cover changes (new trainees, refresher cycles)
- The EAP decision lands (Option A or Option B)
- Government / HSE guidance changes materially
This document forms part of A M Water Services Limited's Integrated Management System. Paper copies are uncontrolled when printed.
Audit trail¶
| Date | Action | By | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04/05/2026 | Issue 1 drafted | Sean Ashton, HSQE Consultant | New standalone Mental Health policy, complementing POL_HSQE_26 Welfare. Codifies in-house MHFA cover (Jason May, Leanne Mason), signposting routes including 116 123 Samaritans, and the EAP-decision pathway (gap-closure tracker #13). |
How this document is approved
This document is maintained under AMWS's continuous-compliance model. Substantive revisions are reviewed and signed off by the Directors at the standing weekly Director / HSQE compliance call (Sean Ashton, Onyx + Leanne Mason). Currency, cross-references and minor edits are checked at the monthly Onyx site visit. The annual Management Review (September) provides the strategic-level confirmation. Compliance is therefore continuous, not gated on a single annual meeting.