1. Purpose
Phoenix Mental Health Services recognises the importance of environmental sustainability and is committed to taking reasonable and proportionate steps to reduce the environmental impact of its operations where practicable.
As a primarily digital and community-based mental health service, the organisation aims to support environmentally responsible working practices through:
- reducing unnecessary travel;
- increasing the use of digital systems;
- minimising paper usage;
- supporting remote and virtual service delivery where appropriate; and
- considering sustainability within operational decision-making.
This statement outlines the organisation’s current approach to environmental sustainability and its intention to work towards reducing carbon emissions over time in a manner proportionate to the size and nature of the service.
2. Scope
This statement applies to:
- employees;
- contractors;
- associates;
- consultants; and
- individuals working on behalf of Phoenix Mental Health Services.
It applies to operational activities that are reasonably within the organisation’s influence and control.
3. Commitment to environmental sustainability
Phoenix Mental Health Services is committed to:
- promoting environmentally responsible working practices;
- reducing waste where reasonably practicable;
- encouraging efficient use of energy and resources;
- supporting digital methods of communication and record-keeping;
- considering sustainability when engaging suppliers and service providers where appropriate; and
- reviewing opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of service delivery over time.
The organisation recognises that, as a tenant within shared premises, certain environmental controls remain the responsibility of landlords or building management.
4. Environmental objectives and current operational position
Phoenix Mental Health Services aims to:
- continue reducing unnecessary paper usage and support digital-first working practices;
- support remote and hybrid working arrangements where clinically and operationally appropriate;
- reduce unnecessary business travel where feasible;
- encourage environmentally responsible procurement practices where appropriate;
- support the use of electronic communication systems to reduce avoidable printing and travel; and
- review opportunities to improve environmental sustainability over time.
The organisation recognises that environmental sustainability objectives must remain proportionate to operational requirements; service user needs; clinical safety; and available organisational resources.
- digital clinical systems;
- remote consultations where clinically appropriate;
- electronic communication methods; and
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
The organisation does not currently operate company-owned vehicles and has limited direct environmental impact associated with manufacturing, transportation, or industrial activity.
Where possible, the organisation seeks to reduce unnecessary travel and paper usage through the use of digital technologies and remote service delivery.
5. Areas of focus
5.1 Digital working and paper reduction
Phoenix Mental Health Services will continue to:
- utilise electronic patient record systems;
- encourage digital communication with patients, professionals, and partner agencies where appropriate;
- reduce reliance on printed documents where operationally feasible; and
- support digital workflows and secure electronic record keeping.
The organisation will continue working towards minimising unnecessary paper usage and increasing the use of secure digital systems where feasible.
5.2 Remote and flexible working
Where clinically and operationally appropriate, Phoenix Mental Health Services may support:
- remote consultations;
- virtual meetings;
- flexible working arrangements; and
- hybrid working practices.
Remote consultation and flexible working arrangements may also contribute towards reducing unnecessary travel-related environmental impact.
5.3 Energy and resource use
The organisation will encourage reasonable energy efficiency measures within its operational control, including:
- minimising unnecessary electricity use;
- encouraging the use of energy-saving settings on devices;
- reducing avoidable waste; and
- promoting environmentally conscious working practices among staff.
Where the organisation occupies leased premises, responsibility for building-wide energy infrastructure may remain with the landlord or property management provider.
5.4 Procurement and Suppliers
Where reasonably practicable and proportionate, environmental considerations may be taken into account when engaging suppliers, contractors, and service providers.
This may include consideration of:
- digital service provision;
- reduced paper usage;
- sustainable business practices; or
- environmentally responsible operational approaches.
The organisation recognises that supplier selection must also take account of clinical, operational, financial, and regulatory requirements.
5.5 Staff awareness
Phoenix Mental Health Services aims to encourage staff awareness of environmentally responsible working practices through:
- digital working guidance;
- reduction of unnecessary printing;
- responsible use of resources; and
- promotion of remote communication methods where appropriate.
6. Monitoring and review
The organisation may periodically review its environmental practices and identify proportionate opportunities for improvement where feasible.
Phoenix Mental Health Services may undertake proportionate environmental or carbon reporting where required for contractual; procurement; framework; or regulatory purposes.
Environmental objectives and sustainability initiatives may be reviewed periodically through governance and quality improvement processes.
The organisation may publish environmental sustainability information or carbon reduction updates through its website or other organisational communications where appropriate.
Any environmental targets or reduction initiatives will be reviewed periodically to ensure they remain:
- realistic;
- proportionate; and
- operationally achievable.
7. Governance
Responsibility for oversight of environmental sustainability arrangements sits with the Clinical Directors and relevant operational leads.
Environmental considerations may be incorporated into wider organisational governance, operational planning, and quality improvement activity where appropriate.
8. Review
This statement will be reviewed periodically to ensure continued relevance, proportionality, and alignment with organisational operations and any applicable contractual or framework requirements.