Health and safety watchdog failed to quiz DWP on jobcentre mental health concerns

The agency that regulates workplace health, safety and welfare had no written contact with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about claims that multiple work coaches had experienced “mental breakdowns” due to work-related stress, DWP has confirmed.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was told last April, and again two months later, that more than a third of the work coaches on a single floor of a jobcentre in Oxford had experienced a mental health crisis in just one year.

HSE is the national regulator for workplace health and safety, but it is “sponsored” as a government agency by DWP, the department responsible for running jobcentres.

The minister responsible for HSE is a DWP minister, Viscount Younger – although he was not in post at the time – and HSE’s chair is a former Conservative minister for disabled people, Sarah Newton.

HSE has previously denied suggestions that it refused to investigate the concerns at Oxford jobcentre (pictured) because of its close links with DWP, and it insists that all its decisions are made independently.

But DWP has now confirmed in a freedom of information response that HSE never contacted it in writing to discuss the concerns.

Disability News Service (DNS) asked in November for any communication or reports shared between HSE and DWP’s “health and safety business partner” about the concerns.

DWP has now told DNS: “We have no correspondence from the Health and Safety Executive in relation to concerns about the mental health of staff working at Oxford jobcentre between 1 October 2021 and 31 October 2023.”

The concerns about the jobcentre were raised with HSE by former work coach Jake Baker*, who told the agency that 10 current and former DWP staff were willing to provide evidence.

Seven of those willing to give evidence had themselves experienced a significant collapse in their mental health after having to deal with 27 appointments a day with claimants, when they previously had between 17 and 19, an increase of more than 40 per cent.

The concerns raised by Baker appear to have met HSE’s criteria for investigating work-related stress, with its own document stating: “HSE will only consider investigating potential issues of work-related stress where it is evident that several employees are experiencing work-related stress or related ill health.”

Baker told DNS last night (Wednesday): “When the HSE opted to ignore an extensive catalogue of legitimate and very serious health and safety concerns, it essentially handed the DWP carte blanche to inflict more neglect and suffering on the workforce, resulting in widespread ill health and the destruction of many Civil Service careers.”

An HSE spokesperson said: “Concerns were made to us and after looking into the matters raised we felt they did not meet our criteria to investigate further.

“All employers need to recognise their legal duty to prevent work-related stress and to support good mental health in the workplace.”

*Not his real name, although both DWP and HSE are aware of his identity

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