Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland has been selected to become part of new £64 million pilot to deliver joined-up work and health support following recent call by Bosworth MP, Dr Luke Evans, for approach which helps people with long-term health diagnoses back into the workplace.
Many people are living with long term conditions, and it is estimated 700,000 people could work if they had the right support, which is good for the individual, but also good for society.
The WorkWell service provides a single, joined-up assessment and gateway into both employment support and health services locally to help people manage their conditions and to identify workplace adjustments or support that would enable them to stay in work or return sooner.
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (ICB) is one of 15 WorkWell pilot areas, which also includes neighbouring Coventry and Warwickshire.
It comes after the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced a sweeping package of welfare reforms to modernise the benefit system and help thousands more people into work, including a review of fit notes to consider how to relieve pressure on GPs and deliver personalised work and health plans that prevent people from falling out of work and onto long-term sickness benefits.
Speaking about the reforms Work and Pension Secretary, Mel Stride, said “Our approach to transforming the benefits system for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions is guided by three important priorities: providing the right support to the people who need it most; targeting our resources most effectively; and supporting disabled people to reach their full potential and to live independently.”
Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, recently spoke about this in the House of Commons to reiterate his call for a joined-up approach between GPs, primary care teams and the Department for Work and Pensions.
Dr Evans said “Compassion has to be at the heart of the Government’s consultation. [As a GP I saw] patients who had to be reassessed repeatedly, which does not seem fair, but I have also seen patients who do not engage with services and do not take medication, yet are signed off, which is not compassionate either.
“One practical way forward is to bring DWP closer to GP surgeries, so that people can have their hand held when they get to a diagnosis, whether it is of anxiety or a physical complaint, or whether they are recovering from an operation. Will the Minister consider that in the consultation? DWP joining up with primary care would be a fantastic way to help GPs help their patients—and to help the DWP.”
Mel Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, responded “I thank the Member for Bosworth for a sensible set of questions. He refers to the importance of bringing GPs together with advice and support to get people into work. That is very much the focus of our fit note reforms, upon which we have a call for evidence at the moment.”
An example WorkWell user journey:
- The user is employed but their chronic back pain and depression means that they have been signed off work and are considering stopping altogether, leaving them financially vulnerable.
- They are referred to WorkWell by their GP, employer, or local service.
- They meet with a Work and Health Coach for a work and health assessment to understand their health and social barriers to work and develop a plan to overcome them.
- They are signposted to in-house WorkWell services – four sessions with a physiotherapist, a meeting with a counsellor, and a meeting with a Human Resource Advisor for employment advice.
- Their plan also includes referrals to other relevant local services that will enable them to overcome their barriers to work. This includes training opportunities to help them explore new career opportunities; social prescription to a support group tackling loneliness; and speaking to Citizens Advice Bureau for financial advice.
- Thanks to their plan, they can remain in work and continue to meet with their WorkWell Work and Health Coach, who checks in on their progress and offers further work and health advice as needed.
