A pilot scheme to help people with health issues start, stay or return to work has been launched in parts of Birmingham and Solihull.

WorkWell will support people in East Birmingham and North Solihull who are currently out of work due to ill health or disability to return to work as well as those currently in employment but at risk of falling into long term sickness absence.

The service is part of a new £64 million, two-year Government pilot with NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board chosen as one of the 15 areas in the country to be part of it.

It brings together senior health professionals, employers, employment support specialists and the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector.

Data suggests that around 5,000 people claiming out of work benefits in the East Birmingham North Solihull area could benefit from health and care support and the pilot is initially aiming to reach around 1,500 of them.

Local residents can refer themselves online or can ask their GP to make a referral.

Employers in East Birmingham and North Solihull without an occupational health service are also being encouraged to signpost employees who may benefit from the service, particularly where employees are struggling with an ongoing health condition and would benefit from support to avoid a longer period of sickness absence.

A central multi-disciplinary team coordinates the service alongside four locally commissioned delivery partners who will support their local primary care networks. These are:

• Birmingham Disability Resource Centre (serving Shard End & Kitts Green and Birmingham East Central Primary Care Networks)
• Sähëlï Hub (serving Washwood Heath & Nechells and Saltley & Alum Rock Primary Care Networks)
• Better Pathways (Serving Small Heath and Bordesley East Primary Care Networks)
• Colebridge Trust (Serving North Solihull Primary Care Network)

Organisations supporting WorkWell include Birmingham City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, West Midlands Combined Authority and the Department for Work and Pensions, with the Integrated Care Board acting as the lead.

Dr Sunaina Khanna, GP and Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System Medical Director for Integration, said: “This is a really exciting initiative in East Birmingham and North Solihull.

“As a GP I regularly see patients who would benefit from additional support to either stay in or return to work and I also see the very real impact of poverty on people’s health.

“If you are out of work due to ill health or disability or in work and at risk of long term sickness, please do come forward using the referral link.”

Paul Athey, Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at NHS Birmingham and Solihull said: “WorkWell demonstrates our commitment as an integrated care system to enhancing the health and care support available in our communities and to a firmly held belief that addressing poverty is one of the best ways to improve health.

“It’s fantastic to be working with four organisations truly embedded within the community and I know that service users will benefit from the wealth of experience they bring.” 

Residents can out themselves forward for support via the referral link.