ABSTRACT
The growth of precarious work is part of a national campaign to downgrade mental health services. Under the National Health Service (NHS's) Increased Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) the main bulk of services are low-intensity 'wellbeing' programmes, based on a diluted model of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The debate around precarious work is a defining one in the field of employment relations, challenging established management practices and questioning the entire contents of business school libraries. Employee engagement is a well-researched area of human resource management, identifying the need for mental and emotional stimulation, autonomy in decision making, career growth, skills development and, most importantly, social capital. A growing number of people working in mental health, particularly therapists and clinical psychologists, are registered as sole traders or self-employed. This raises important questions not just about professional liability but also clear lines of duty of care.
