Fit for Work Services
Local partners are running a number of local Fit for Work Services around Great Britain. Fit for Work Services help people in the early stages of sickness absence to return to, and remain in, work more quickly after illness or when they develop a health condition or impairment.
Eleven Fit for Work Services received short-term 'pump prime' funding from central Government until March 2011. Seven of those sites have been awarded further funding to continue until March 2013.
The Fit for Work Services operate in:
- Scotland-wide
- Rhyl
- Greater Manchester
- Kensington and Chelsea
- Leicestershire
- North Staffordshire
- Nottinghamshire.
The Fit for Work Services provide case-managed, multidisciplinary support for employees in the early stages of sickness absence who may be at risk spending long periods away from work with health problems. Services coordinate help with:
- health and treatment
- employability
- wider support services – for example debt, relationship or housing problems.
Case managers work to ensure that clients receive appropriate support on time.
The Fit for Work Services deliver early intervention support, as evidence that suggests that work is generally good for health and that returning to work at the appropriate time is part of the recovery process.
Profiles of the FFWSs around Great Britain
Scotland-wide
- Large-scale pilot.
- Accessible via a free national advice line.
- 14 local FFWS – one for each Health Board area.
- Telephone advisers 'triage' calls to determine support required, then either provide advice and signpost self-help resources or refer callers to their local FFWS.
- Services focus on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) without occupational health support and on low paid employees.
- Contact –
Mark Kennedy
Deputy Director
01698 206 322
07823 326 204
Rhyl Fit for Work Service
- Covers Rhyl, Prestatyn, Kinmel Bay, Abergele, Pensarn, St. Asaph and Colwyn Bay
- Provides support to employed or self-employed people in the early stages of sickness absence.
- Referrals welcome from GPs, employers and self referrals
- Focus on supporting employees in SMEs without access to occupational health
- 'One stop' shop approach – fully case managed with case managers based in local primary care centre
- Brings together physiotherapy, psychological therapies, IAG and other support services
- Monthly employer-focussed workshops, on improving healthy working practices.
- Strong links with Healthy Working Wales.
- Run by a City Strategy Partnership, Community Interest Company in partnership with Public Health Wales and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
- Contact –
Bridgette Handley
Fit for Work Service Manager
01745 369 561
07775 010 364
Greater Manchester
- Focus is on employees who have been off work for 4 weeks or more, due to a health related condition
- Support will be mainly for employees from small and medium sized enterprises, (SMEs)
- Support includes fit note solutions, phased return to work, restricted duties, flexible working, changes to job role, finding alternative employment etc
- Advice and support for social concerns including finance, housing, family, carer issues
- Occupational management interventions including workplace risk factor assessment and modification
- Lifestyle support, self help including cognitive behavioural therapy
- Referral to a very wide network of relevant local provision and in-house services which can provide specialist support for clinical and non-clinical needs
- Contact –
Gemma Marsh
Health and Worklessness Manager
0161 123 0997
Kensington and Chelsea (taking in Hammersmith, Fulham and Westminster)
- Focus on supporting SME sickness absentees, mainly via GP referrals.
- NHS Occupational Health provider delivers case management and therapies.
- Case managers work with employees, employers and GPs.
- Third sector providers deliver debt advice and support clients into new jobs. Other support for health and social issues available through signposting.
- Partnership includes Inner North West London PCTs, Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
- Contact –
Jasmine Riley
Project Manager
020 3350 4412
07768 258733
Leicester City and Leicestershire County and Rutland
Aims to:
- Move management of sickness absence from the medical model into vocational rehabilitation
- Move vocational rehabilitation closer to mainstream primary care
Our service:
- Provides a referral route for GPs to break the cycle of sickness absence repeat visits to the practice
- Accepts referrals from GPs and Practice Therapists, listening to, understanding and building client confidence to support a return to work
- Multi-disciplinary team provides one to one case management support with access to a wide network of support specialists to solve medical and social problems, including health, employment and debt advice, within the workplace or at home
- Signs Fit Notes within the service and communicates outcomes to GPs
- Works impartially with employees and employers to help improve communication and identify the best way to facilitate a return to work
- Contact –
Leicestershire Fit For Work Service
2nd Floor, Voluntary Action Leicestershire
9 Newarke Street
Leicester
LE1 5SN
0116 2851710
North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
- Tests the expansion of the local NHS team delivering the Condition Management Programme
- Builds on the service supporting the return to work of employed people with long-term ill-health problems following periods of sickness absence
- The service uses a case-managed approach and aims to help individuals to return to work quicker after a period of sickness absence, thus avoiding the potential loss of employment
- It is delivered by a Team of NHS Professionals and provides access to specialist assessment, if required. Independent help and support is also available for workplace problems or issues such as finance or housing
- Contact –
Joanne Nixon or Margaret Brett
Project Leads
0300 123 0997
07515 190 321 / 07802 545 583
Nottinghamshire
- Supports individual sickness absentees through case management provided by NHS based occupational therapists, expert in mental health problems and musculoskeletal disorders
- Direct employer engagement, including mediation and support, an integral part of the service where required
- Works with GP’s, other health professionals including IAPT, employers and takes self referrals
- Contact –
Heather Downey
Project Manager
0115 934 9540
07973 858 480
Background information
The attached Overview of the Programme of Piloting sets out the basis on which the first phase of pilots was set up. It includes details of:
- objectives of the Programme of Piloting
- eligibility for Pilot schemes
- scope of services
- key principles for pilot service delivery.
The policy context for the Fit for Work Service and the Programme of Piloting
The presentation from the Fit for Work Service Information Workshop in Edinburgh explains the policy context (March 2009).
Developing the Programme
In February 2010, we held the first Fit for Work Service Programme Learning Network Conference, in preparation for the programme going live in April 2010. Delegates from the 11 sites who were part of the first phase attended, as well as Fit for Work Service policy leads from the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health. In addressing the conference, Dame Carol Black, set out the principles and the thinking behind the Fit for Work Service Programme. A second round of funding was awarded to seven of the sites by the DWP, so they could continue the service in their area until march 2013. The Fit for Work Services use an active learning network in which pilots share experiences and best practice.
Fit for Work Service conference videos
Elements of the Fit For Work Service Programme Learning Network Conference and Dame Carol’s address were videoed. These are a useful resource for service providers developing or considering launching Fit for Work Service.
- Fit for Work Service conference highlights
- Introduction to Fit for Work Service by Dame Carol Black
- GP referrals –1
- GP referrals – 2.