Good health and good work go hand-in-hand. When we feel well, we’re more able to stay in work, enjoy what we do, and support ourselves and our families. But when health problems – like stress, back pain, or long-term conditions – get in the way, it can be hard to stay in or return to work, even if we want to. Our WorkWell Programme is helping people to stay well and stay working.
Here in the North East and North Cumbria more people are out of work due to poor health than in most other parts of the country.
In some areas, it’s as many as one in three working-age adults.
That’s not just tough for people affected – it also puts a strain on families, communities, the economy, and the NHS. We know people want to stay active, connected and independent. But too often, people don’t know where to turn for help – or they get stuck between services that don’t join up.
We want to change that.
We are one of three areas in England to receive money from the Government - £19m - to help people get the support they need, before they feel they have to give up work due to poor health. You might hear this described as a 'Health and Growth Accelerator site'.
The Programme brings together the NHS, councils, job support services, voluntary organisations, and employers to offer joined-up support for people who need it most.
Our aim is to support around 2,000 people in the first year – including:
We're focusing on three key areas to make a real difference.
1. NHS WorkWell services including advisors
People who need support will be referred by a GP or other professionals to a service where a WorkWell coach will work with them to build a personalised plan which could include:
2. Extra support for NHS and care staff
We will be offering extra help for those who are struggling with their wellbeing.
This includes:
This will help staff stay in their jobs and get the support they need to thrive at work.
3. Creating healthier workplaces
We're also working with local employers to help them create fairer and more supportive workplaces. This includes:
Funded by the Government as part of a national Health and Growth Accelerator pilot, WorkWell supports working-age people whose health puts them at risk of being out of work.
It’s a service that works with GPs to help identify patients who may be struggling in work due to health problems and/or personal circumstances.
With the support of WorkWell coaches/advisors, patients will be supported to access the health, employment, and financial advice that they need to help them stay in work.
Who is delivering the service?
WorkWell services are delivered through NHS local delivery teams in partnership with councils and the voluntary sector. How these are run vary across different areas in the region with roll-out being phased over the autumn. The programme is managed by the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, with support from NHS England. A national and local evaluation will help us understand how the service is working and how it helps people stay well and stay in work.
How is this different from other employment programmes?
Unlike standard job support this programme aims to tackle the root causes of why some people are unable to work due to ill-health or other personal circumstances. The programme combines medical help and support, financial advice and workplace support.
Don’t we have things like already in the region?
Yes, there are some similar schemes in the region. In fact, these have provided the blueprint for the WorkWell programme. For example, the Patient Advisory Service (PAS) and the Waiting Well Programme.
The Patient Advisory Service has been in GP practices in County Durham, Northumberland and the Tees Valley for more than 15 years. This service has achieved better outcomes for people who were previously at risk of going off work for a prolonged period, reducing their risk of dropping into long-term unemployment.
The service places trained patient advisors into GP practices, where they work alongside healthcare professionals to support people whose health is affecting their ability to work or stay in work.
It's been shown to bridge the gap between healthcare and employment advice. Based within primary care where people already go for help, it is very accessible.
Alongside this, the Waiting Well programme offers targeted support to certain groups of patients waiting for surgery. It supports people to be in the best health they can be prior to surgery to make sure they can recover as quickly as possible.
The WorkWell programme complements the Trailblazer and Connect to Work programmes. The Trailblazer and Connect to Work programmes focus on supporting people with health conditions and disabilities to return to work from unemployment. We are working very closely to get the best results for people.
How can people get a WorkWell advisor?
Most people will be identified by their GP (or other professional) and referred to a local WorkWell Hub/Service. There, they will meet a WorkWell advisor/coach who will make a plan to help them manage their health and access support they need to stay in or return to work. In some areas, people may be able to refer themselves.
GPs will identify patients at risk of not being able to work because of health problems. These people will be referred to a WorkWell advisor/coach which may be based in the same GP surgery practice or a local hub.
The advisor or coach will talk to them to understand their needs and make a plan to help them. They will also connect them to other services they need such as relevant NHS or community services. The advisor/coach will also offer practical help with benefits, workplace adjustments, confidence-building and returning to work, as well as help to navigate job centres, employers, or training services. The relationship will usually continue over several weeks or months, with follow-up where needed.
GPs will identify patients at risk of not being able to work because of health problems. These people will be referred to a WorkWell advisor/coach which may be based in the same GP surgery practice or a local hub.
The advisor or coach will talk to them to understand their needs and make a plan to help them. They will also connect them to other services they need such as relevant NHS or community services. The advisor/coach will also offer practical help with benefits, workplace adjustments, confidence-building and returning to work, as well as help to navigate job centres, employers, or training services. The relationship will usually continue over several weeks or months, with follow-up where needed.
Can I refer myself to the WorkWell service?
No, most people can't refer themselves. They will be contacted by their local WorkWell hub if they are suitable for support.
How are people identified for support?
GPs will help identify people at risk of having to stop working or going off sick. They will refer patients they see in their clinics. GPs will also do this by using data that is held by their practice. They will look for people who have had many sick notes in a short time.
In the longer term we will be working to ensure that a range of healthcare providers, including occupational health services and voluntary, community and social enterprise services can refer in to this WorkWell service. Plans for the future, also include enabling people to contact a WorkWell advisor/coach directly to ask for help rather than having to be referred.
Yes, your data is safe. A data protection impact assessment has been completed and approved. This means we’ve carefully reviewed how your personal information is collected, stored, and used, and have put in place the necessary safeguards to keep it secure.
What's MSK? Why is support for this such a big focus?
MSK stands for Musculoskeletal. These conditions affect joints, bones and muscles. They are a common reason why people go off work. The programme offers extra services to help people manage their pain and stay in work. This includes using digital tools to help people manage their pain and stay in work.
They also include support for people with chronic pain and those who need specialist support for their back.
What support is offered to NHS and care staff?
We are expanding services currently offered by our existing Staff Health and Wellbeing Hub. This £1.4 million investment means staff most at risk will be able to quickly access support such as psychological therapies and mental health and addictions care, alongside a range of options such as self-management tools and digital therapies.
What makes this programme different from standard NHS care?
This programme combines healthcare, job support, money advice, and community help. Instead of being passed between services, people get a personalised plan with their WorkWell advisor/coach who helps them with everything.
The programme includes a local and national evaluation which is looking at:
This is led locally by the ICB and nationally by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) evaluation team.
How does the programme link with the Government Digital Service (GDS)?
We're working with the Government Digital Service (GDS) on how to make it easier for people with long-term conditions or disabilities to access the support they’re entitled to. Many people don’t realise what benefits, services, or help are available - or find the process of applying stressful and confusing.
By working with GDS, we’re helping to:
This work supports our wider goal: to help people manage their health, stay in work, and reduce stress caused by navigating complex systems.
What's the Waiting Well programme?
Waiting Well is an existing NHS programme that offers targeted support to certain groups of patients waiting for surgery in our region.
There's lots of evidence to show that taking some simple steps to improve fitness, diet and mental health before surgery or treatment helps patients make a better and quicker recovery. It also reduces the risk of the treatment being cancelled because of them not being well or fit enough to have the operation.
The programme uses data held by GP practices to identify patients who may benefit from support.
Eligible patients are contacted and offered help to prepare them for their surgery.
Depending on a patient’s needs, there are different levels of support ranging from access to online resources to more bespoke offers such as social prescribing.
Not all patients who are waiting for surgery are offered support from the Waiting Well team as this is determined by the level of help that a patient may need. Patients cannot refer themselves for the Waiting Well service. Currently, only their surgical consultant can refer them to Waiting Well.
How does Waiting Well link with Work Well?
The WorkWell programme expands on this by adding a stronger work focus - helping patients struggling to stay in work while waiting for care. People who are waiting for surgery will be offered access to an advisor/coach and the support services that are on offer as part of the WorkWell programme.
Our programme is part of a wider effort across our region to help people to stay well, stay in work or return to work. We are working closely with our combined authorities, local authorities and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) to make sure support is joined up and connected with what's already out there. This collective effort will be essential to bring about the change we want to see. Together we know we can make a difference and support people in our region to stay well, and stay working.
