Tools of the trade

The information below has been selected by RCN Information and Knowledge Management. We hope you find it useful. Please contact rcn.library@rcn.org.uk if you would like to make any comments.

LRD booklet: Stress and mental health at work

Work-related stress is a massive health and safety hazard affecting both public and private sector workplaces. This booklet demonstrates the crucial role of union representatives in tackling stress and mental health at work and is fully updated to take account of the Equality Act 2010. Go to the LRD Publications website.

Acas have produced a booklet Health, Work and Wellbeing which gives advice on musculoskeletal disorders, mental health, stress and alcohol problems. Go to the Acas website.

Read From Stress to Distress: The Impact of the Economic Recession on Mental Health at Work on the Acas website.

Go to the RCN library’s FAST service for further resources on work related stress and work life balance.

Progression pathways for all trade union representatives

This guide is about progression in the work that you do to support union learners. It will help you to think about gaining skills and knowledge in advice and guidance, coaching, mentoring and facilitating learning. View the guide on the Union Learn website.

Advice on higher learning for working people

A new website, Higher Learning at Work has been launched to help learners discover the opportunities available to get better qualifications. There are diagnostic tools to see if you are ready for degree-level studies: and  courses which have bite-sized modules so that you can combine learning with your work and family commitments and bring your knowledge up to date.

Read more on the Higher learning at work website.

New workers

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) workers are as likely to suffer injury in the first six months at a new workplace as during the rest of their working lives; with vulnerable groups such as young workers and migrants especially at risk. Read more on the TUC website.

View the HSE six steps to protect new workers on the HSE website.

New publications held at the RCN Library

• Dewe,P, O’Driscoll, M.,Cooper, C.(2010) Coping with work stress: a review and critique.Wiley: Malden, MA.  ISBN: 9780470997666 (cloth)
• Workplace health in primary care: a qualitative research project to explore the development and sustainability of workplace health interventions in primary care. London: NHS Health Development Agency (2011)
• Workplace health in small practices London: NHS Health Development Agency (2011) 
• Royal College of Physicians of London (2011) Implementing NICE public health guidance for the workplace: a national organisational audit of NHS trusts in England.
• European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (2010) Workplace violence and harassment: a European picture.Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

Disclaimer: This information has been selected by RCN Information and Knowledge Management from reputable sources. We hope you find it useful. However, we do not accept responsibility for the wording, content and accuracy of the information at sites linked to.