The government is to roll out a health and employment support service across England to help people with health conditions stay in, or return to, work.
The early-intervention service, Workwell, integrates with local NHS, council, and community services to prevent people from leaving work due to health issues, or supporting them back to work.
Participants will be able to access personalised health and employment support such as physiotherapy and counselling, workplace adjustments and return-to-work plans through employer referrals, GP referrals, Jobcentre Plus, local services, or self-referral. WorkWell is part of the Pathways to Work offer, created to help disabled people and those with health conditions move into work and be supported.
Following the success of the WorkWell pilot in 15 areas, it will be rolled out across all of England and backed by up to £259 million over the next three years. As a result, up to 250,000 more people with health conditions will receive support to stay in, or return to, work.
The expansion is expected to ease pressure on NHS waiting lists, reduce demand for GP appointments and tackle long-term sickness by ensuring more people receive health and work support.
Pat McFadden, secretary of state for work and pensions, said: “Too often, people with health conditions are signed off sick without the support they need to stay in or return to work and that doesn’t help anyone. WorkWell changes that by giving people the help they need. Our pilot provided support to 25,000 people to remain in their jobs and helped others get back to work. Now we’re rolling this out nationwide because supporting people to stay healthy and employed benefits individuals, businesses, and our economy.”
Wes Streeting, secretary of state for health and social care, added: “WorkWell’s national expansion shows this government is modernising a system that has written people off for too long. By combining health support with employment support in local communities, WorkWell can give people back their confidence, their purpose and their wellbeing. Crucially, it also eases pressure on GPs and cuts waiting lists so we can build an NHS fit for the future.”
Brett Hill, head of health and protection at Broadstone, said: “The expansion of WorkWell is an important step in tackling record levels of economic inactivity driven by long-term ill health, particularly mental health. By providing tailored, health-led support for people who are currently out of work, it has real potential to help more people re-enter employment who might otherwise remain excluded from the labour market.”
