Age Action Alliance – Healthy Workplaces Group
Minutes of the Age Action Alliance Healthy Workplaces Group on
30th January 2014
Attendees
Chair: Denise Keating
Louca Hepburn
Lis Robinson
Katherine Wilson
Helen White
Nick Wilson
Anita Silk
Jeremy Bevan
Apologies Received
Chris Brooks
Dame Carol Black
Dianah Worman
Rachel Armistead
Angela Schlenkhoff-Hus
Hannah Murphy
Alistair Hudson
David Marshall
Stephen Williams
Chris Ball
enei
DWP (secretariat)
DWP
Carers UK
ABI
SEEFA
DWP
HSE
Age UK
CIPD
NHS Employers
CSV
CBI
FSB
BIS
ACAS
TAEN
Introductions
DK opened the meeting and welcomed new members from ABI and DWP.
Item 1- Health and Work Service
AS gave an update on progress on the health and work service which .is
working towards going out to tender. It is on track to begin in autumn
2014.and will offer independent, work focused advice and assessment carried
out by occupational health professionals. Not just health focused, but a
holistic service that will signpost rather than offer provision. Currently referral
is not planned to be mandatory. (See attached handout for more information).
In the ensuing discussion, NW mentioned that the new clinical commissioning
groups would be a good way of publicising the H and W service.
HW asked if the service will collect data, AS confirmed that it will and that it
will probably be published. NW pointed out the importance of feedback to
employers in situations where poor workplace practice is identified.
HW asked if a representative from the H and W service could go to ABI to
give a presentation
AP0114/01 LH to request a representative from Health and Work Service
to attend ABI
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Age Action Alliance – Healthy Workplaces Group
Item 2 – DWP Extending Working Life Framework (EWL) for Action
LR gave an update on the Framework for Action which is currently being
drafted. A series of stakeholder events have been held themed around the
causes we already know to be associated with early exit from the labour
market such as health and flexible working, Caring, and certain Industries.
Common themes emerged from all the roundtables.
The framework will be evidenced based and analysis is currently being
gathered and all existing actions known to impact on EWL are being corralled
in to the document which will set out concrete actions and the business case
for working longer.
One thing highlighted in a number of roundtables was the need for accredited
advice and guidance for employers and sector based case studies. LR asked
members for any they could provide.
AP0114/02 Members to forward brief case studies or quotes to
louca.hepburn@dwp.gsi.gov.uk if possible in the format of ‘challenge,
what happened, result’
No firm date has yet been set for publication of the Framework for Action, but
it is likely to be around March/April.
Item 3 – Extension to the right to request flexible working legislation
DM was unable to attend but sent word that the extension of the right to
request flexible working, originally scheduled for April has been delayed
possibly until autumn due to slow progression of the Children and Families Bill
through the House. BIS are however hoping to maintain the momentum and
may go ahead with promotional events already planned for April
A point was raised about the need to publicise events amongst members
Item 4 – Future direction for the group
There was a discussion about how to develop the group moving forward, with
a suggestion that the core group should invite guest speakers to discuss
specific topics and that future meetings could benefit from being themed
around for example: the Framework for Action when published, self
employment, sectors, mental health, the Mid Life Career Review, generational
issues (e.g. impact on technology on younger generation and early
preventative action)
In the discussion that took place a number of points were raised about the
age focus of the group and whether an interest in younger generations and
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Age Action Alliance – Healthy Workplaces Group
early intervention is justified. As one example, working to ensure
Apprenticeships have built in information about healthy workplaces across the
life course.
AP0114/03 members to send in recommendations for future
development of the group and topics for discussion so that a
programme of events can be drawn up
Item 5 – AOB
HSE is likely to be hosting one of two workshops later in the spring, at
which the European Occupational Safety and Health Agency (EU-OSHA) will
present the findings of a recent EC funded pilot project on approaches to
managing the occupational health and safety of older workers across a
number of EU member States. A second workshop will look at health
and wellbeing/rehabilitation issues for older workers. AAA members to contact
JB for more information
Carolynne will shortly be drawing up a job spec for the role of Older Worker
Business Champion. Group Members to send any recommendations for the
role to Carolynne
AP0114/04 Group members to send any recommendations re: the older
worker business champion to Carolynne Arfield
The Disability Employment Strategy has now been published and can be
viewed here.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-disability-and-health-employmentstrategy-the-discussion-so-far
Next meeting
It was decided that the next meeting should take place in June Possibly w/c
16th
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