The Employment Compass

What the Tool Offers

Practical, evidence based support for employers

The Employment Compass provides managers with evidence based workplace support guidance to help them better support people with severe mental illness (SMI) at work. The tool is designed to support employee mental health and wellbeing and strengthen the support available to people with SMI in the workplace. Developed by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, The Employment Compass is now entering a free 6 week pilot, where participating managers will use the tool and provide feedback to help improve its development and contribute to innovation designed to improve employment outcomes for people with severe mental illness.

Suggested Learning Modules

The tool is structured around flexible learning modules that employers can access at their own pace. Suggested modules include:

Understanding Severe Mental Illness

An overview of severe mental illness, common diagnoses, symptoms, and how these may affect people at work.

Creating Psychologically Safe Workplaces

Practical steps to reduce stigma, foster openness, and build supportive team cultures.

Reasonable Adjustments in Practice

Guidance on identifying, implementing, and reviewing reasonable workplace adjustments.

Supporting Absence and Return to Work

Best practice approaches to managing sickness absence, phased returns, and ongoing support.

Effective Conversations and Communication

How to have confident, compassionate conversations about mental health at work.

Legal and Policy Considerations

Understanding employer responsibilities, equality legislation, and good governance.

Supporting Managers and Teams

Tools and strategies to support line managers and colleagues effectively

Our Purpose, Approach and Partnerships

Why It Matters

People living with severe mental illness often face barriers to gaining and sustaining meaningful employment. The Employment Compass aims to support managers by providing guidance on how best to support individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) in the workplace. By strengthening workplace support and promoting inclusive practices, the tool aims to contribute to better employment experiences and outcomes for people with severe mental illness. The upcoming pilot will also provide valuable feedback from managers to help inform and improve the tool.

Our Approach

The Employment Compass has been developed by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to provide managers with evidence based guidance on supporting people with severe mental illness (SMI) in the workplace. The project is now moving into the employer pilot phase, giving managers the opportunity to use the tool and provide feedback on their experience. This feedback will help inform and improve the tool and contribute to developing effective workplace support for people with severe mental illness.

Partners and Funders

This project is funded by SBRI Healthcare and delivered through NHS England in partnership with Innovate UK. The Employment Compass has been developed by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, drawing on clinical and research expertise. The funding supports the development of innovative digital solutions designed to improve employment outcomes for people living with severe mental illness and strengthen workplace support.

How You Can Get Involved

Employers and stakeholders are invited to contribute to the development of the tool.

Organisations are invited to take part in a free 6-week pilot of The Employment Compass starting in October 2026. The pilot will give managers the opportunity to use the digital tool and provide feedback on their experience. We are looking for managers who have experience providing work-related support to people with severe mental illness (SMI). Relevant experience may include providing work-related or reasonable adjustments to colleagues with SMI, contributing to human resources, wellbeing, or occupational health initiatives, implementing mental health policies, and promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) within your organisation. By taking part, you will help us understand how The Employment Compass can support managers and contribute to improving employment outcomes for people with severe mental illness. Please contact MLResearch@slam.nhs.uk to register your interest or request further information.