It launches workshops discussing stress and mental health management
Brokerage Just Mortgages has initiated a series of online mental health workshops for principals at its broker firms to help them promote the mental health support available for individual brokers.
The workshop topics include stress management and how to manage a team’s mental health. The workshops are designed to complement the wellbeing part of their management training which helps managers recognise the early signs of mental health issues. In addition, managers are taught the correct approach to take to offer brokers the confidential support that is available and how to access it.
Just Mortgages has also renewed its partnership with Health Assured which provides all the firm’s staff and brokers with an independent, free, and confidential helpline offering mental health support over the phone. The employee assistance program is available 24/7, and gives support to staff and brokers.
Read more: Just Group aids colleagues through cost-of-living crisis.
“Buying a house is always touted as one of the most stressful things in a person’s life, but it’s easy to forget that it’s not just borrowers but brokers who are caught up in the stress and pressure of the process.” John Philips (pictured), national operations director at Just Mortgages, said. “The stress is inevitably going to have a knock-on effect for brokers, and this will be present and building throughout their professional career.
“We recognised that for many brokers dealing with the stress associated with home buying, day-in day-out, can negatively affect their mental health, and so we wanted to put a structure in place where appropriate support was free and easily accessible.”
Philips added that by launching these workshops, they can ensure that the head of broker firms are aware of the support available and can proactively communicate this to their brokers.
“It’s a crucial part of the success of the service that it is provided by a trusted third party, so that confidentiality is assured, and help is provided without judgement or any stigma,” he said. “Feedback from staff has been overwhelmingly positive since we introduced this, and I’d encourage every firm to look at providing this support if they don’t already.”
