WorkWell is a new initiative set to support thousands of people across the Black Country with health conditions and disabilities to find or retain employment to boost their wellbeing.
The Black Country is one of just 15 places around the country chosen as a pilot area to deliver the WorkWell scheme which will provide early intervention to people who are experiencing barriers to gain or retain employment due to health conditions or disabilities.
WorkWell is a service designed to support anyone with a health condition or disability to either:
- Return/Remain in work
- Find and Access work
- Refer or signpost into various services available in your local area.
This service provides a team of trained Work and Health Coaches who will provide short term, light touch support to help individuals with their support needs to return, remain or succeed in work.
WorkWell will help individuals to build a personalised support plan based off their current needs, health conditions/disabilities and additional support that may be needed and then work together with organisations across the Black Country to provide joined up support for that individual.
Following a referral into WorkWell one of our team of trained Work & Health Coaches will complete an initial assessment to identify any and all support needs required and depending on the individuals needs may provide support under any of the three core support categories:
Employment Support
If an individual requires employment support due to health barriers, support may include:
- Create a personalised goals plan
- Access education, training and volunteering support
- Finding available employment opportunities
- Support building a CV, job application and interview techniques
- Confidence building and disclosure techniques
- Understanding reasonable adjustment requests with new employers
In Work Support
If an individual in work requires support to return to work or to stay in their current role due to health barriers, support may include:
- Support to understand individuals rights and laws in the workplace
- Open conversations with employers to discuss health barriers
- Review of reasonable adjustments with employers
- Negotiate and support return to work plans and conversations
WorkWell is available for anyone who is:
- 16+ years old
- Lives or is registered to a G.P. anywhere within the Black Country
- Has the right to work within the UK
- Anyone experiencing barriers to employment due to health conditions/disabilities
WorkWell will support those who are in work, need support returning to work or are out of work up to 6 months who require early intervention due to facing health related barriers, however, we also link participants needing more complex support to return to work who have been out of work longer with services who can provide longer term support.
During an individual’s referral into WorkWell additional/alternative support needs may be identified that may also support individuals. WorkWell aims to act as a single point of access to an individual’s health related support needs. Services available for signposting may include:
We will be working closely with many different organisations across the Black Country.
Individuals can ask any health care professionals they may be attending to fill out a referral for to our team or alternatively individuals can also self-refer into our service.
How to refer?
Contact the WorkWell team on bchft.workwellteam@nhs.net in the first instance.
We are currently working on our eReferral form. When this is ready, we will add to this section on the site.
- Telephone the service on 01922 607164
- Email the service on bchft.workwellteam@nhs.net
- View further information at www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/ourservices/employment-services