Melin Homes has been identified as an exemplar employer for this case study on mental health and wellbeing due to a positive and continued approach to improving employees’ mental and physical health and wellbeing. Melin Homes has achieved the Healthy Working Wales (HWW) Platinum Corporate Health Standard (CHS) and is a Pledged Organisation for Time to Change Wales (TtCW).
Melin Homes is a registered social landlord based in Pontypool, providing affordable homes and services to people living in South East Wales. The housing association currently has 250 staff and exists to create opportunities for people and communities to thrive.
Melin Homes was awarded the winning commendation for Best SME Company Response for Supporting Staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. The range of support that Melin Homes offers to their staff via the Zest wellbeing programme, and how they adapted and enhanced support, impressed the panel of judges. The judging panel included Wales CBI, Federation of Small Businesses and Chambers Wales, as well as Wales TUC, Mind Cymru and Public Health Wales.
Melin Homes has also been a Time to Change Wales Pledged Employer since 2014 and as a result, has shaped both their policies and processes therefore having a positive impact for staff at all levels of their organisation.
Hear from Melin Homes below on about what they are doing to end mental health stigma in the workplace.
"We signed the TtCW Employer Pledge in 2014 because we are passionate about helping support employees and encouraging other employers to end mental health stigma and discrimination. This is really important to us and we actively support TtCW with the activities we run at Melin, encouraging people to take time out of the day to talk openly. In May 2022, we renewed our pledge to reaffirm to staff and partners the importance of putting an end to mental health stigma and discrimination." Paula Kennedy, Chief Executive, Melin Homes
Melin Homes has worked with Healthy Working Wales since 2012 when first setting out on its health and wellbeing journey and signed the TtCW Employer Pledge in 2014, pledging to do what they can to end mental health stigma and discrimination in the workplace and in wider society.
These actions have helped guide their work to ensure policies and culture are supportive of people with mental health problems. Melin Homes regularly run campaigns to ensure there is no stigma around mental health, including providing workshops for staff, clear messages to staff and residents - all of which are backed up by support.
To find out more, click here to read the Melin Homes case study.