- Conference
- 2007 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 26 February 2007
- Decision
- Carried
Conference welcomes some positive aspects of the Mental Health Bill that intend to make mental health services more able to respond to the complex, emotional and medical needs of people experiencing mental ill health.
However, Conference is concerned that:
1)the proposed increased use of Community Detention Orders may jeopardise opportunities for disabled people to become or remain economically active;
2)only drug based solutions are being considered rather than a wider range of regulated or combination support therapies;
3)the inclusion of people with learning difficulties alongside people with mental ill health will exacerbate existing public provision unless specialist services are developed and appropriately resourced with training.
Employers’ policies will need to be able to accommodate the needs of workers with mental ill health, particularly in performance appraisal, grievance and disciplinary procedures. Disability related leave policies should also be put in place so that medication needs can be met and in order to provide ongoing access and facilities in the workplace.
Conference calls upon the National Executive Council to work with the National Disabled Members’ Committee to:
a)campaign for improved public service provision to meet the demands of proposed legislation, including non-drug therapies; and
b)issue advice to branches so they can address workplace related issues with employers locally