About Us

The ‘How’s Your Business Feeling’ resource was developed by a multi-agency group with a remit for Mental Health and Employment across the County of Staffordshire and the City of Stoke-on-Trent. Reporting to the area’s Local Implementation Teams for Mental Health, the work of the group includes responding to the recommendations of the Social Exclusion Unit report (2004) and the National Service Framework for Mental Health. The group has representation from health, social care, voluntary organisations, service users, Jobcentre Plus and ConneXions.

The content of the resource is informed by nationally recognised best practice and evidence-based guidance. This includes the Health and Safety Executive’s Management Standards for Stress and the South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust User Employment Programme. A number of local models of good practice are also drawn upon, including the Support, Time and Recovery Service managed by Stoke-on-Trent Social Services Department. A key aim in developing the resource was to draw together the key elements of this existing guidance and best practice and make it more easily accessible to organisations locally.

The resource was launched, initially in CD ROM format, in January 2007 and dissemination is continuing across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.