The Staff Governance Committee met on Monday 29 June 2026, approving a new Menopause and Menstrual Health Policy and noting progress on the Employee Mental Health Action Plan. The committee also noted the Cluster Risk Register and Corporate Health and Safety report, and noted the successful relocation of staff from Queen Street Public Mortuary.

Menopause and Menstrual Health Policy

The Committee approved a new Menopause and Menstrual Health Policy, which will be implemented on 1 August 2026. The policy aims to provide support for employees experiencing menopause and menstrual health issues. Several suggestions were incorporated into the guidance and support information hub, including references to premature menopause, support links to organisations such as The Daisy Network and Menopause Matters, and acknowledgement of the impact of other major life events. The policy also includes a feature allowing employees to directly search the guidance on specific topics. A minor amendment was made to the report, changing the reference to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS).

Corporate Health and Safety

The Committee noted the Corporate Health and Safety report for January to March 2026. In relation to the report, members requested further information outwith the meeting on the definition of 'externalising behaviour' and any overlap with the 'physical injury or violence' category. They also sought clarification on why the figure for 'externalising behaviour' for injury cause in primaries and nurseries was 263, while the figure for secondaries was zero.

Employee Mental Health Action Plan Annual Progress Update

The Committee noted the progress made on the Employee Mental Health Action Plan during 2025 and the continuation of current workstreams for 2026. The Chief Officer – People and Citizen Services was instructed to present a revised Mental Health Action Plan within the next 12 months, which will be aligned with organisational data trends and the updated Scottish Government delivery plan.

Cluster Risk Register and Assurance Maps

The Committee noted the Cluster Risk Register and Assurance Map, which were presented in appendices to the report.

Queen Street Public Mortuary Staff Move

The Committee noted the progress and achievements related to the move of staff from the Queen Street Public Mortuary to the North East Combined Mortuary. The report highlighted the engagement with team members throughout the change process and the benefits and opportunities realised for staff.