
WORKWELL IS NOW SUPPORTING SOUTH YORKSHIRE RESIDENTS TO START, STAY AND SUCCEED IN WORK
Published 17 October 2024 at 12:45pm
South Yorkshire has started a new service to get people with long term health-related problems back into employment, or to keep them in work.
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) was recently awarded more than £3.5m as one of 15 pilot areas across England to deliver a new work and health service, WorkWell, and will provide the service in partnership with the South Yorkshire Housing Association.
The new service provides a referral mechanism for employees and employers to ask for the support they need. WorkWell offers a tailored early-intervention work and health support and assessment service, and a single, joined-up gateway to other support services.
South Yorkshire was selected by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to deliver the WorkWell partnership (WorkWell), as part of the Government’s Back to Work Plan.
WorkWell builds on the successes of SYMCA’s flagship programme, Working Win, that has supported over 6,500 people with a disability or physical and or mental health condition to either start, stay, or succeed in employment since 2018.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, who also chairs the region’s Integrated Care Partnership, said: “The poor health that scars our region doesn’t just hold back our economy, it stops people from making the most of their talents and enjoying the lives they deserve. Through the innovative Working Win scheme, we’ve already supported 6,500 people back to work. Through the additional funding for WorkWell, we’ll be able to support many more people across South Yorkshire, so that we all have the opportunity to stay near and go far.”
One of the main focuses of the Integrated Care Partnership Board in South Yorkshire is the relationship between employment and improving population health.
WorkWell will offer low-intensity holistic support to people in work who are struggling due to a health condition or disability, to overcome health related barriers to employment.
Juliann Hall, Director of Care, Health and Wellbeing, South Yorkshire Housing Association, said: “Good work is important because it can offer people new experiences, help to build local connections, and provide meaning and purpose. At South Yorkshire Housing Association, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunities and support to find a job they can flourish in.
“WorkWell will ensure that people living with health conditions and disabilities are supported to find and stay in work, and given the chance to share and grow their talents in South Yorkshire.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with SYMCA on another much-needed employment support programme, and looking forward to working with local communities and organisations in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.”
The WorkWell Partnership will enable a wide range of local organisations to connect individuals to the support they need. Partners across work and health, such as GPs, Primary Care services, Job Centre Plus, Local Authorities, Employers and the Voluntary Community Sector will be able to make referrals into this service later this year.
Gavin Boyle, NHS South Yorkshire Chief Executive, said: “We know that good work and good health are strongly linked, with each affecting the other. That’s why I’m delighted that South Yorkshire has been chosen to show how we can support some of our most vulnerable to find and stay in work. One of our four core purposes of an Integrated Care System is to support the NHS in driving broader economic and social development, and helping people into jobs and stay in them is key to this.”
The scheme will see partners such as the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (SYICB), the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), the four Local Authorities and Job Centre Plus working together to create an integrated work and health system with support services that meet the needs of the region’s residents and employers.
Christine Joy, Chief People Officer, said: “Through the pilot we’ll be looking to support those who are in work and have a health condition or disability who are either struggling with sickness absence or are at risk of falling out of work. In addition, through the pilot we want to support those who are currently out of work who have a mental health condition and MSK related condition, who require a small amount of support to return to work. Clearly there are people who have significant health conditions or disabilities for whom this pilot won’t support, and we’ll be continuing to provide support to those groups through existing programmes and initiatives.”
Partners across South Yorkshire are already working hard to support people into work and this investment will only boost this.
Find out more about WorkWell at southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/workwell and syha.co.uk/workwell.
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