Recurring concern

Inadequate employer processes for addressing workplace mental health concerns

First to latest report 29 May 2015 — 26 Jun 2024

Reports that mention this concern
2
Times this concern has been raised
2
Stated actions linked to this concern
2

What this concern includes

Includes deficiencies in employer or workplace processes specifically for addressing mental health concerns, including procedures for appropriate disclosure and their application in workplace disciplinary processes.

What is not included
  • Excludes general mental health service access, clinical treatment, or cross-agency care coordination issues not tied to workplace processes.
  • Excludes disclosure failures involving courts, regulators, coroners, or other non-workplace recipients.
  • Excludes generic staffing, documentation, training, or awareness deficiencies unless the source explicitly ties them to addressing workplace mental health concerns.

Reports and published responses 2 reports

See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response

  1. Herefordshire

    AI-generated summary

    Nicola Jane Lacey · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Nicola Jane Lacey lived alone and was found dead at her home after she failed to attend work on 30 December 2022; the inquest concluded that her death was suicide. The report raised concern about the need for clear procedures for employers on disclosing colleagues’ ongoing mental health difficulties, for the benefit of the individual and wider public safety.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of clear, known procedures for employers concerning appropriate disclosure of colleagues' ongoing mental health difficulties

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) Procedures should be clear and known to employers concerning the appropriate disclosure of a colleagues ongoing mental health difficulties for the benefit of both the individual concerned and the safety of the wider public. ”

    Source location

    Nicola Jane Lacey · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Develop and implement separate working-hours and out-of-hours SOPs governing the process for staff disclosure decisions under the Position of Trust framework.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “In this situation where concerns arise the clinical team notify our Safeguarding team who then co-ordinate an appropriate discussion with professional advice and a decision is made using the Position of Trust Framework as to whether information is shared with an employer or not.”

    Source location

    Response from Herefordshire and Worcestershire NHS
    Page 2 · response
    Published 27 June 2024

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Add the working-hours and out-of-hours SOPs to the Trust’s Position of Trust Policy.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “To ensure this process is clear, known to staff and followed routinely we have developed 2 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), one within working hours and one for out of hours. These SOPs are now in place and will be added to our Position of Trust Policy. Please find both SOPs attached for your information.”

    Source location

    Response from Herefordshire and Worcestershire NHS
    Page 2 · response
    Published 27 June 2024

    Open published response

  2. Sunderland

    AI-generated summary

    Melanie Jane Amundsen · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Melanie Jane Amundsen, a vulnerable adult, was found dead in a bedroom on 12 September 2014 after consuming a fatal amount of alcohol. The report raised concerns about employers' and employees' awareness of mental health issues in the workplace, particularly during disciplinary processes, and about the publicity of relevant ACAS guidance.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of awareness of workplace mental health issues in disciplinary processes among employers and employees

    Wider context from the report

    “Not every employer or employee may have an awareness of mental health issues in the work place, and in particular in respect of disciplinary processes. Whilst ACAS (The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) have a very informative website and publications, there may be scope for it to be enhanced and better publicised so that both, employers and employees may have that awareness and act upon it. ”

    Source location

    Melanie Jane Amundsen · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.

Back to top

Data last updated 7 September 2026