Building Block 1: Foundation

Create an Action Plan

Here you’ll find everything you need to create your Action Plan for Building Block 1: Foundation

Begin by reviewing your Current State Assessment score. Next, watch the webinar and read the related information and tips. Finally, create an Action Plan customized to your organization’s needs.

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Current State Assessment of Key Performance Behaviours (KPBs)

Your Score:
28/28
Review Results

Watch the Webinar

Purpose of Webinar

This webinar explains how Building Block 1 will help you lay the foundation for a workplace psychological health strategy or system. It follows the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle.

Tasks from Webinar

  1. Establish why psychological health and safety matters to your organization
  2. Gain leadership buy-in and stakeholder commitment
  3. Identify your organization’s requirements, needs and resources

Download Worksheets and Tools

If you chose to create a steering committee, you may opt to use this Terms of Reference template; which outlines the type and amount of work to be accomplished by the committee. Terms of Reference Template

Consider including psychological health and safety in your current health and safety policy statement? Here’s a sample policy statement you can use as a guide. Health and Safety Sample Policy Statement

The Employee Experience Scorecard provides internal champions, HR leaders and senior leaders with a framework for making the business case to invest in mental health. Employee Experience Scorecard, Howatt HR

Download Webinar (PDF)

Your Support Action Plan

Tips from WSPS Consultants

  • Include your vision for workplace psychological health and safety within your existing health and safety policy.
  • Consider creating a steering committee to help guide your strategy and accomplish action items. Steering committee members may include health and safety representatives, union representatives, diversity and equity representatives, human resources professionals, champions or other stakeholders.
  • Use SMART goals to define how your organization will achieve success. This means identifying tasks that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
  • Consider your current policies and programs. Are employees aware they exist? How often are they being used? What is their impact?
    • Policies could focus on: disability management, return-to-work, respectful workplace, remote working, flexible work time, sick time, etc.
    • Programs could include: employee/family assistance program (EFAP), extended health benefits (psychological services), psychological health and safety training for leaders, mental health training for managers, awareness sessions for employees, respectful workplace training, resilience/coping skills training, peer support program, suicide prevention training, health and wellness initiatives (e.g., walking challenges), and psychological health and safety management system, etc.
  • Understanding your employees’ feedback is critical. Decide how and when you’ll engage them.
    • Some organizations provide surveys or assessment tools upfront and then use data from the results to inform their “Getting Started” Building Blocks (Foundation, Support and Planning). There are many ways to gather employee input, including surveys such as: Guarding Minds@Work, Stress Assess, Stress Satisfaction Scan, Mental Fitness Index (fee) to capture aggregate organizational data, or conduct interviews and focus groups.
    • Other organizations use existing data gathered from EFAP utilization reports, town halls or other sources, and then formally assess for psychological hazards.
    • Choose the option(s) that best suit your organizational needs.

Potential Action Items

Identify Champions and Key Stakeholders

Be clear on who is accountable (who has oversight and who owns results?) and who is responsible (who is tasked with leading and facilitating initiatives?) Engage key stakeholders at all levels of the organization and keep diversity and inclusion in mind.

Remove Silos

See if there are opportunities to integrate and align psychological health and safety initiatives with existing health and safety and/or human resources initiatives. Keep the employee experience in mind, and remember that every interaction an employee has in the workplace can be perceived as positive or negative.

Focus on Behaviours First

As much as possible, focus on establishing positive behaviours before programs and policies. Be clear on what behaviours you want to impact and how each can help prevent mental harm and promote mental health.

Create Your Action Plan

Use this interactive tool to create your customized Action Plan for Building Block 1. Define your goals and objectives, plan your activities, and view and monitor your Action Plan.

Define your goals and objectives

Add Goals & Objectives

Plan your actions

Add Activity

Foundation

Activity Status Last Modified    
Sample Activity 1 Incomplete February 24, 2022 Update Delete

View and monitor your Action Plan

View Detailed Action Plan

Additional Resources and Tools

13+ Workplace Factors Toolkits

There are 13+ workplace factors that can contribute to a psychologically healthy and safe workplace.

Many factors influence Building Block 1, but here are some workplace factors to start with:

Speak with a WSPS Mental Health Consultant

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) offers psychological health and safety consulting services. See how our specialized consultants can help support your journey today.

Speak with a WSPS Consultant