Consultancy brief: Understanding the impact of Mental Health on the record keeping workforce
Introduction – Archives and Records Association (ARA)
ARA is the lead professional body for archivists, archive conservators and records managers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The ARA aims to support its membership through training, continuous professional development, identification of employment opportunities, professional help and advice, and by providing a community to which the membership can belong and from which they draw benefit through open discussion and debate, as well as through gathering of information and advice.
Our strategic aims and further information about ARA is available in full on our website www.archives.org.uk
Context
16% of the record keeping workforce suffers from long-term health issues, and over a third of this population identifies that their illnesses affect their work.
The most common issues are depression, bad nerves or anxiety – reported by 22% of those with long term health issues. Mental illness was in addition cited by 13% of people.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 4 of the UK adult population will suffer a mental health problem in any year and 1 in 5 show symptoms of anxiety and depression. The 22% of respondents identifying as having depression, bad nerves or anxiety is similar to the national average. Of those who have long-term health issues, 38% reported that this affects their work.
The recordkeeping sector has long been aware that the workforce is affected by vicarious trauma but research into more general areas of mental illness, anxiety and depression has been overlooked.
To quote one manager “Personally, it was through trial and error that I found the best way of supporting someone to flourish - I found little help or guidance out there.”
This work will enable the sector to offer improved access to start and develop a career for those with mental health issues. This will improve the diversity and skillset of the sector.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of this project is:
to understand the impact of mental health on the career development of the recordkeeping workforce and what needs to be done to support and enable people to fulfil their potential in the sector.
to offer supporting guidance for employers. Anecdotal evidence is that employers can be scared of the perceived HR / future illness aspects around this.
The consultant will provide a report that will:
provide an overview of how mental health impacts on the career development of the workforce, identifying barriers and challenges and recommending how these can be addressed.
offer supporting guidance to employers.
We expect the consultants to evidence that they will engage with people with lived experience of mental health issues.
We will expect the consultants to attend an initial meeting and then provide an interim report for consideration at an interim meeting with subject experts prior to finalisation of the report.
Background sources of information
ARA/CILIP Workforce Report 2015 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60773266d31a1f2f300e02ef/t/6082cdeb7f3eb152b7d05b6b/1619185144298/A_study_of_the_information_workforce_141115_7mb.pdf
DWP and CIPD. (2024) Recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition: a practical guide for managers. DWP. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/665088d505e5fe28788fc4c3/recruiting-managing-and-developing-disabled-people-a-practical-guide-for-managers-print-version.pdf
Digital Preservation Coalition (2025) report on mental health and wellbeing in the digital preservation community: https://www.dpconline.org/docman/digital-preservation/mhw/3431-mhw23-report/file
Methodology
Please tell us in your proposal what your methodology will be including research methods and how any working/steering group will be involved in the work.
Product
The consultant will provide a written report using the above points. It will be published and made freely available on the ARA website. Some case studies may not be suitable for inclusion in the report but can be used to influence the guidance.
Costs
The budget for this project is £8,000. Please provide a budget with your tender, stating inclusive or net of VAT.
Timetable
Please include a project timetable with key milestones in your proposal
Liability Insurance
Please include a copy of your professional liability cover with the proposal.
Contractor Personnel
Please include in your proposal details of who would be working on the project with a clear indication of who will be leading.
Monitoring
This project will be managed by the ARA Chief Executive- John Chambers
Quotations and timings
Completed proposals should be sent by e-mail to:
John Chambers, Chief Executive, Archives and Records Association, john.chambers@archives.org.uk
by 30 April 2026.
The appointed consultant is expected to complete the project by September 2026.
For an informal discussion contact John Chambers. john.chambers@archives.org.uk