The Construction Leadership Council and Mates in Mind are trying to gain an understanding of how to influence the procurement of construction projects with a specific focus on improving mental health & wellbeing. Consequently, they have asked the HCLG to help progress this activity. As CECA’s National Civil Engineering Director, Peter Crosland sits on the HCLG Mental Health sub-group, this now automatically includes Peter’s associated groups, i.e the CECA HS&W Group and CONIAC TIHWG.
The ask is to create, as an industry, a map of 7 key dimensions associated with mental ill health and suicide risk in Construction and create simple, practical guidance for clients to use when tendering contracts.
The key dimensions are;
- Physical
- Financial
- Relationships
- Emotions
- Culture & Belonging
- Work design
- Crisis Response
Jim Beestone, Chair of the HCLG Mental Health Sub-Group has produced a slide deck that provides further details on each of the dimensions – see here.
The intention is, for each of those 7 elements, to create:
- A description of what the dimension is, and why it contributes to the issue: (e.g. the stressors that poor financial health can have on individuals). This includes both micro and macro levels – e.g. in finance both personal financial literacy, and elements like supply chain payment terms.
- How this dimension can be improved/mitigated at tender stage (e.g. requirement to be subscribed to prompt payment code, etc.)
- Case studies (from industry) about how this has been successfully approached (e.g. financial wellbeing campaigns, etc.)
We believe this is an excellent opportunity for CECA members and CONIAC TIHWG to be able to influence the procurement of projects.
Initially, it is expected that the outputs from this exercise will be drafted into the JCT suite of Frameworks as a pilot exercise. However in time, it would be good to see the guidance extended into the more familiar civil engineering contracts such as ICC Infrastructure Conditions of Contract, (formerly ICE Conditions of Contract) and NEC Contracts.
If you are able to contribute to this work please notify Peter Crosland as soon as possible. It would be useful if you could identify any initiatives from an Organisational, Project or Individual level.