Health, Work and Well-being
Health, Work and Well-being is a cross-government partnership that aims to improve the general health and well-being of the working-age population. Ensuring more people with health conditions or impairments are able to work contributes to the Government's welfare reform package by helping to reduce the number of people taking sick leave and claiming sickness benefits.
The initiative is supported by the Department of Health, Department for Work and Pensions, Health and Safety Executive, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, Welsh Assembly Government and Scottish Executive.
Working alongside employers, trades unions and healthcare professionals, the partnership:
- creates healthier workplaces
- ensures provision of good occupational health services
- enhances rehabilitation support and
- seeks to provide employment opportunities for those currently not in work due to ill health or disability.
- Health, Work and Well-being – more information including research, tools and case studies
Background
The Health, Work and Well-being Initiative began in 2005 with publication of the first Government strategy on this agenda. It set out the need for a coordinated approach to maintain individuals’ attachment to the labour market and help prevent avoidable job loss.
In 2008, DWP and the Department of Health jointly commissioned Dame Carol Black, the National Director for Health and Work, to review the health of Britain’s working-age population. The Review, “Working for a healthier tomorrow”, set out recommendations for action, targeting a broad range of stakeholders including healthcare professionals, employers and individuals.
The Government's response to Dame Carol Black’s Review “Improving health and work: changing lives” was published later in 2008 and introduced a series of measures including the Statement of Fitness for Work or “fit note”, the occupational health advice services and the Fit for Work Service pilots.
