Workplace Mental Health
Become an Assessor
Become an Opening Minds Workplace Psychological Health & Safety Assessor and help organizations see where they can improve their working environments for all workers.
Benefits of becoming a Qualified Assessor
Innovation
Growth
Help organizations and workers adopt a Psychological Health and Safety Management System and promote psychologically healthy and safe work environments
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Impact
Combine your expertise and our evidence-based standardized tool to help organizations integrate PHS throughout their operations
Assessor Qualification Training (AQT)
The Assessor Qualification Training consists of three components:
- Integrating Psychological Health and Safety into the Workplace
- Opening Minds Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Assessor Training
- Qualifying Assessment
Integrating Psychological Health and Safety into the Workplace is a prerequisite for Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor training; those who are interested in becoming an Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor are strongly encouraged to submit an application prior to registering in Integrating Psychological Health and Safety into the Workplace.
Assessor Pathways
There are two types of assessors in the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessment Qualification Training: Internal and External. Both have their own advantages which path to take is dependent on the unique circumstances of both the organization and the individual. External Assessors are more likely to be consultants or independent business owners, and Internal Assessors work at the organization they will be assessing, possibly in areas like HR, OHS, or Wellbeing.
Please note that due to significant interest and high volume, OM is currently prioritizing applications from Internal Assessors. External Assessors are welcome to apply with the understanding that Internal Assessors will be prioritized in the next offering of Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor training.
Internal Assessors
First Party Internal Assessor: Directly employed by the organization undergoing the PHS Assessment. Upon successful completion of the course and practical requirements, they will be licensed to conduct internal Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety assessments for the organization they are currently employed with. They cannot conduct Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety assessments for other organizations without a status change, which may require additional required training by the Opening Minds.
Third Party Internal Assessor: These are people who are not employees of organizations they will be assessing. They may be employees of associations of which the organization is a member, such as a safe work association. Therefore, they have the necessary knowledge and experience in the industry to conduct internal Assessments for a member organization which does not have their own first party internal assessor(s) or needs additional assistance. They cannot conduct Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety assessments for other organizations outside of their member organizations without a status change, this may require additional required training by the Opening Minds.
Key Benefits
- Internal Assessors have a unique perspective of the business needs and policies/procedures/processes within their organization or member organizations
- Cost-effective model to complete a Psychological Health and Safety Assessment in an organization
- Internal Assessors maintain their employment
External Assessors
Independent External Assessor: Not an employee of the organization that is undergoing the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessment, they may be consultants or independent contractors. Upon successful completion of the course and practical requirements, they will be licensed to conduct external Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety assessments for an organization providing that they have no conflict of interest.
Advertise your assessment services and conduct assessments for organizations across Canada.Â
Key Benefits
- Ability to market your assessment services, setting fees within Opening Minds-provided guidelines
- External Assessors can complete recognition assessments for organizations interested in the recognition program
- Flexibility and autonomy in selecting assessments in your preferred industry
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants interested in completing Assessor Qualification Training are required to go through a selection process. This process includes a written application. Applicants submit their application outlining why they are interested in becoming an Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor and how their credentials align with the qualifications outlined below. Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessors must have an understanding of Psychological Health and Safety in the workplace. OHS auditing or workplace assessment experience is an asset. Please see eligibility requirements below.
Along with the application form, applicants must provide their resume and two letters of support (if internal, one must be from their employer) for consideration.
Minimum Qualifications
- Successful completion or commitment to complete Opening Minds Integrating Psychological Health and Safety into the Workplace course*
- Familiar with the National standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
- Familiarity with Psychological Health and Safety practices
- Familiar with Health and Safety management systems, and how they are used within workplaces
- Certification in Mental Health First Aid
- Proficiency in computer programs such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
- Experience with Virtual meeting platforms like Zoom and MS Teams
- Professional communication skills
- No criminal convictions
- Proof of liability insurance is required prior to commencing initial Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessment as outlined in the applicable Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor Agreement
*Application may be approved prior to completion of Integrating Psychological Health and Safety into the Workplace; by accepting admission into the AQT, participants commit to completing the prerequisite prior to the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor Course start date.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with ISO 45003:2021 Occupational health and safety management — Psychological health and safety at work — Guidelines for managing psychosocial risks is an asset
- Previous experience with workplace health and safety, or workplace culture audits or assessments
- Familiarity with applicable legislation related to psychological health and safety within the jurisdiction you will be working in
- Experience with AuditSoftTM platform
- Completion of The Working Mind Managers/Employees
- Completion of LivingWorks Safe Talk Training/ Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
Application Details
- Completed application form [PDF download]
- Resume
- 2 letters of support (if Internal, one must be from your employer). Letter of Support Instructions are located here [PDF Download].
After submission, please allow 5-7 business days for processing. Please note that at this time, OM is prioritizing the training of Internal Assessors.
Course Structure
- The Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor training is a course consisting of both practical and written assessments that introduces Assessors-in-Training (AITs) to the AuditSoft Assessment process. AITs will demonstrate how to carry out each step in the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessment process, and use the assessment tool to record information and generate an assessment report and action plan. These skills are addressed through group discussions, practical exercises (including a case study), and practice sessions. Participants will receive feedback throughout the course in preparation for submission of the written mock assessment.
- Once the AIT completes Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor training by passing the written knowledge check and practical assessment (mock assessment submission), they will be free to begin assessments as a Provisional Assessor.
Cost of Training
The cost of the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor Qualification Training is $2190, the combined registration fees of both Integrating Psychological Health and Safety into the Workplace ($695, 2 half-days) and Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor Training ($1495, 4 days). This includes access to the learning management system for the pre-work, the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor Resource Portal. Assessor Membership in the Community of Practice is $500 per year. After training support is also available from the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessment team. Assessors will be added to the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor directory where client organizations will be able to reach out to them directly to engage their services.
Maintenance of Qualification
Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessors must adhere to all clauses listed in the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor Agreement. This includes but is not limited to:
- Meeting minimum annual requirements to maintain certified status
- 2 assessments per year (not applicable to Internal Assessors)
- Ongoing refresher activities
- Community of Practice Membership fees in good standing
- Maintaining fidelity to the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessment AuditSoftTM tool and process as presented during the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor Qualification Training
- Adhering to provincial and national privacy laws as it regards to the collection of personal information from participants
- Adhering to the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor Code of Conduct
Cancellation Fees
You acknowledge and agree that any amounts paid by you are non-refundable if cancellation occurs less than 30 days prior to the registered Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor course. Otherwise, a full refund, less a 25% administration fee, will be provided for cancellations received in writing. Registration is non-transferable.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor Training requires an application prior to registration, and completion of the Integrating PHS into the Workplace prerequisite course. We encourage those interested in becoming an assessor to complete an application prior to registration in Integrating PHS into the Workplace. Once an application is approved, the participant may complete their registration and payment for both courses. The application form can be found here.
The Assessor Qualification Training consists of two courses: Integrating Psychological Health and Safety into the Workplace (2 days, $695) and Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessor Training (4 days, $1495).
Yes! Your first assessment will be a Qualifying Assessment, meaning it will be subject to additional scrutiny in the Quality Assurance process to ensure your assessment skills are in line with the training course. Once your Qualifying Assessment is complete, your status will change to Qualified Assessor.
Assessors-in-Training are course participants who have not yet completed the OM PHS Assessor Training. Once they have passed the course (including knowledge check and mock assessment), their status will change to Provisional Assessor. Provisional Assessors are then free to solicit and complete their first assessment, known as a Qualifying Assessment. Once the Qualifying Assessment is completed according to OM Quality Assurance Standards, their status will be updated to Qualified Assessor.
As an External Assessor, you are free to price your services as you see fit. However, to ensure consistency for client organizations, the minimum expected rate of External Assessors is $800/day, with a maximum of $2000/day.
No. The Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Integration Framework, Assessment Content, and AuditSoft tool are proprietary materials that cannot be altered in any way. Opening Minds will occasionally make updates and ensure all assessors are informed and supported with any changes.
The Community of Practice will be a place where Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Assessors will be able to share information, best practices, request assistance with any challenges they encounter, and learn from other assessors and experts. The CoP will host workshops and webinars in various topics as requested by the community, and answer any questions in the forum.
Assessor Qualification Training Application
Please complete the form below and upload your completed application documentation. After submission, please allow 5-7 business days for processing. Please note that at this time, Opening Minds is prioritizing the training of Internal Assessors.
