WorkWell

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.or local Jobcentre Plus falls 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:

Referral-Signposting-WorkWell (1).png

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?

You can refer into the service using our eReferral form.

If you have any queries please contact the WorkWell team on bchft.workwellteam@nhs.net

Telephone the service on 0800 952 6955
Email the service on bchft.workwellteam@nhs.net

Other key services

www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/ourservices/employment-services

Work and health support in the Black Country

Helping your workforce thrive with WorkWell

Are you a business that employers people from the Black Country?
Are you facing challenges such as:
- Supporting employees with sickness and long-term health needs
- Challenges with staff retention
- Gaps in workplace wellbeing provision

WorkWell is here to help.

At WorkWell, we support people who have health related barriers to work. This can be a new or long-term condition, phsyical or mental health related issue that is affecting your employees' ability to stay in work.

We will work with you to help your staff stay well and stay employed.

View our Employers Guide for WorkWell today.

Work and Health Support in the Black Country

Helping your patients thrive with WorkWell

Are you a GP or part of a Primary Care team in the Black Country?
Do you see patients who are:

Struggling to stay in work due to a physical or mental health condition?
Off sick and unsure how or when to return?
Experiencing the impact of unemployment on their wellbeing?

WorkWell is here to help.

WorkWell supports people with health-related barriers to work — whether that’s a new diagnosis, a long-term condition, or mental health concerns affecting their ability to remain in or return to employment.

Our team works alongside you and your patients to:

Support recovery and wellbeing through work
Provide tailored guidance for returning to or staying in employment
Connect patients with local workplace and health support

Refer your patients to WorkWell today and help them take the next step towards better health and sustainable work.

View our GP and Primary Care Guide for WorkWell today.

Work and Health Support in the Black Country

Helping your students and learners thrive with WorkWell

Are you a school, college, or training provider in the Black Country? Do you support young people or learners who are:

Struggling with their health or wellbeing?
Finding it difficult to stay engaged in education, training, or apprenticeships?
Unsure how to balance health needs with study or work commitments?

WorkWell is here to help.

At WorkWell, we support people with health-related barriers to work — whether it’s a new or long-term condition, or a physical or mental health issue affecting their ability to take part in learning or employment.

We work alongside pastoral teams, careers advisors, and apprenticeship assessors to help learners:

Manage their health and wellbeing
Build confidence and readiness for work
Access local support to stay in education, training, or employment

Find out how WorkWell can support your students and learners today by viewing our WorkWell Schools Guide.

Work and Health Support in the Black Country

Helping your residents thrive with WorkWell

Are you a social housing provider in the Black Country?
Do you support residents who are:

Struggling to find or stay in work due to health issues?
Experiencing poor wellbeing that affects their ability to manage tenancies or employment?
In need of extra support to improve confidence, skills, and stability?

WorkWell is here to help.

At WorkWell, we support people with health-related barriers to work — whether it’s a new or long-term condition, or a physical or mental health issue that’s making it harder to get into or stay in employment.

We work alongside housing teams and community support workers to help residents: