Government’s £64 Million ‘WorkWell’ Initiative to Keep Workers Employed

A new £64 million programme, “WorkWell”, has been announced by the UK Government to help people with health conditions stay in or return to work.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) will roll out this initiative across 15 areas in England, including Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire, and Cornwall.

Integrated Support for Health and Employment

The WorkWell pilots, set to launch in October, will connect 59,000 people with local services such as physiotherapy and counselling. The programme offers a single assessment and gateway for employment and health services, aiming to help people manage their conditions and identify adjustments needed to stay in work.

Prime Minister’s Welfare Reform Package

The initiative follows a package of welfare reforms introduced by the Prime Minister, focusing on fit notes and personalised work and health plans. The goal is to prevent individuals from falling out of work and onto long-term sickness benefits.

Tailored Assistance for Individuals

Participants in the voluntary WorkWell service will receive personalised support from a Work and Health Coach to address their barriers to work. This will include advice on workplace adjustments, conversations with employers about health needs, and access to local services such as counselling and employment advice.

Government’s Vision for a Healthier Workforce

Mel, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, highlighted the potential benefits, saying, “We are rolling out the next generation of welfare reforms so that thousands more people can gain all the benefits work brings.”

Victoria, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, added, “Too often, people with disabilities or poor health fall out of work with no support. This service will help tens of thousands of people, who will receive joined-up work and health support, tailored to their individual needs.”

Focus on Fit Notes and Economic Inactivity

The Government is reviewing the fit note system to focus on what people can do with the right support, rather than what they can’t do. This aligns with the broader goal of addressing economic inactivity due to long-term sickness, which currently affects 2.8 million people.

Supporting Areas with High Fit Note Issuance

WorkWell pilots will operate in areas with high numbers of fit notes, such as Greater Manchester and the Black Country, where over a million fit notes were issued last year. The initiative will include fit note trailblazers to guide individuals towards local support services.

Boosting Mental Health Support

The programme builds on existing mental health support, with a record £16 billion spent last year. The Government is also expanding NHS Talking Therapies as part of its £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan.

Future Expansion of WorkWell

Covering a third of Integrated Care Boards across England, the success of the pilots will inform potential future rollout of a national WorkWell service, aimed at reducing the number of people falling out of work due to ill health.

The total number of Fit Notes issued in each area last year:

Integrated Care Board    –   Total FN issued (Jan – Dec 2023)
Birmingham and Solihull – 334,072
Black Country – 310,812
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire – 191,192
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough – 137,566
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – 95,934
Coventry and Warwickshire – 243,508
Frimley – 112,259
Herefordshire and Worcestershire – 150,606
Greater Manchester – 744,442
Lancashire and South Cumbria – 455,436
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland – 192,650
North Central London – 262,733
North West London – 348,112
South Yorkshire – 322,958
Surrey Heartlands -  130,341

WorkWell Pilots by Area

The WorkWell pilots will take place in the following areas:

1. Birmingham and Solihull
2. Black Country
3. Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
4. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
5. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
6. Coventry and Warwickshire
7. Frimley
8. Herefordshire and Worcestershire
9. Greater Manchester
10. Lancashire and South Cumbria
11. Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
12. North Central London
13. North West London
14. South Yorkshire
15. Surrey Heartlands

User Journey through WorkWell

A typical WorkWell user might be someone with chronic back pain and depression who is considering leaving work. Referred by their GP, employer, or local service, they meet with a Work and Health Coach to develop a plan, receive sessions with a physiotherapist, and meet with a counsellor. The user can also receive other relevant services, such as training opportunities or financial advice, helping them stay in work.