GovWire

• Visit comes ahead of launch of Get Britain Working White Paper, which will bring forward locally-led health, work and skills plans to drive down near record 2.8m people out of work due to long term sickness.
• New WorkWell programme offers tailored support like physiotherapy and counselling for people out of work or at risk of leaving work, bringing together a range of different local services.

Good work is good for health and good for our economy, Liz Kendall and Wes Streeting have declared as they saw life-changing employment support at a North London medical centre today [Wednesday 6 November].

The Work & Pensions and Health Secretaries met people who have been supported by WorkWell to return to or remain in work by helping them to manage their physical or mental wellbeing in the workplace.

Kendall and Streeting also met local GPs, and Work and Health Coaches who are helping deliver the services across North Central London.

With more than 100,000 people, almost 20%, across North London currently out of work due to long term sickness, WorkWell pilots connect thousands of people to local support services such as physiotherapy and counselling to help them stay or return to work.

The visit took place at Junction Medical Centre in Tufnell Park which includes GPs and other medical professionals and acts as a hub for WorkWell referrals.

WorkWell, a new joint programme by DWP and DHSC, went live in October this year, backed by 64m funding. WorkWell will reach 56,000 people across the 15 pilot sites by Spring 2026.

The North Central London pilot has received 60 referrals from healthcare professionals. Over the 18-month lifetime of the pilot, 3,000 participants are expected to be supported across North Central London.

For those already in work, but at risk of falling out of employment, WorkWell can offer advice on managing health barriers in the workplace, a review of reasonable adjustments with employers, and support on return-to-work plans.

For those out of work, referrals can be made by a range of healthcare professionals to WorkWell services which will give support to people with CV advice, interview techniques, and support on reasonable adjustment requests with new employers.

The joint visit follows the 240 million Get Britain Working package announced at the Autumn Budget, including new health and skills plans led by Mayors and local areas. These changes are key to delivering the Governments growth mission and spreading opportunity and prosperity to everyone, wherever they live.

The Get Britain Working plan marks the start of the biggest reforms to employment support in a generation, which will help to drive down poverty and drive up opportunity across the country.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, said:

Good work is good for health and good for our economy too.

Thats why our Get Britain Working White Paper will join up work, health and skills plans to tackle economic inactivity and boost employment across the country.

Our WorkWell programme provides practical help and support to employers and employees, because we know a healthy nation and a healthy economy are two sides of the same coin.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:?

Our sick society has forced record numbers of people out of work, holding back our economy and costing taxpayers eye watering sums.

We have already taken action to cut NHS waiting lists in parts of the country with most people off work for health reasons, to get sick Brits back to health and back to work. Were also making bold public health reforms to help people stay in good health, including phasing out smoking, clamping down on youth vaping, and banning junk food ads targeted at kids.

WorkWell will be part of our mission to help people live healthy, fulfilling lives and having rewarding careers, because prevention is better than cure.

The upcoming Getting Britain Working White Paper will develop:

• A new jobs and careers service to help get more people into work, and get on in their work, by linking jobseekers with employers, with an increased focus on skills and careers;
• Joined-up work, health and skills plans to tackle economic inactivity and boost employment, led by Mayors and local areas;
• A new Youth Guarantee so that every young person is given the opportunity to earn or learn.

These major changes will address spiralling economic inactivity, the near record 2.8 million people locked out of work due to long term sickness and are part of the Governments ambition to reach an 80% employment rate.

This is alongside the Governments work to cut NHS waiting lists and address the?social?determinants?of health which are key to getting Britain well and back to work.

Alongside an extra 22.6 billion given to the NHS for 2023/24 and 2025/26, teams of clinicians will also introduce new ways of working at 20 hospital sites in areas with the highest levels of economic inactivity to help patients return

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