News: Working Win programme extended

The groundbreaking Working Win programme that helps people in South Yorkshire to find and stay in work has been extended until March 2023, providing welcome news to local people and employers.

Delivered by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, in partnership with the DWP, NHS England and South Yorkshire Housing Association, Working Win provides support for people who have a health condition and are unemployed, off sick or in work but struggling.

Over the past four years, more than 5,000 people have been supported, with 2,424 returning to work or finding work, with thanks to the programme, which is completely free to participants. The extension to the scheme means more South Yorkshire people can be supported thanks to the funding boost from the Government’s Work and Health Unit.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard explains: “It is really important that here in South Yorkshire we do everything we can to help people to stay in or to find work. Working Win has had a dramatic impact on so many people’s lives, as well as on local businesses and the wider economy. It is part of our Renewal Action Plan which aims to support jobs and businesses to recover from the impact of the Pandemic.”

Advertisement
Niall O’Reilly, Head of Work and Wellbeing at South Yorkshire Housing Association said: “Fifteen million days of work are lost each year to stress, anxiety and depression. This causes businesses to lose productivity and staff to experience reduced quality of life and damage to their career prospects. Working Win can help equip people with the tools they need to cope much better, building their resilience and return to the workplace, for the benefit of themselves and their employers.”

He adds: “Working Win is entirely free, it’s voluntary and participants can opt in or out of the support at any point.”

As well as providing practical support to improve wellbeing and enable people to thrive in work, Working Win gives participants access to free Westfield Health and Vitality at Work wellbeing packages. This includes a 24-hour advice and information line and a 24/7 GP telephone line, plus expert support with employment, housing and finance, income and debt advice.

Working Win participant, Mark, said: “Within a week of being on Working Win, my whole life changed. I recognised the strengths I had and was able to start back at work part time. Within a few weeks I was offered full time work, which I accepted and have now been offered a promotion. I learned to quash the depressive thoughts that were holding me back and to focus on my own value and self-worth. I feel like I’m back now and able to contribute to society.”

South Yorkshire employers are encouraged to let employees know about Working Win if they feel it may help, either by sharing an e-leaflet or inviting someone from the team to give a short presentation to staff.

Working Win website

Images: SYMCA

Read more...

News: Jobs support programme helps 3,500 people in work

The Sheffield City Region (SCR's) trail blazing Working Win scheme, which has helped thousands of people find and stay in work, has helped 511 more people to stay in work.

This takes the total number of residents supported up to 3,570, helping the region’s fightback against the Coronavirus pandemic. The scheme has supported people in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw with physical and mental health issues to find or stay in training and work.

Working Win ran as a trial from May 2018 to October 2020, followed by the extension which runs until March 2021. It was one of only two national pilots of its kind funded by and delivered in partnership with Central Government and NHS England.

Anji Keegan, an Advisory teacher supported by Working Win, said: "When your body won’t do what you want it to do it really knocks your confidence and self-esteem. One of the things that my work coach Paul taught me to do was not to be afraid to ask for reasonable adjustments.

"It was about Paul empowering me to advocate for myself - I’ve got the confidence to do that now and didn’t have that before Working Win.

"I was really clear with my line managers about what I need for my health condition, and that this was about me staying in work – and my managers were amazing about it.

"I’m still in a job that I love, and I am a much calmer person about my health – I’m not as frustrated with it as I was. I’m beginning to look for the things that I can do, rather than the things I can’t do."

Niall O’Reilly, Head of Work and Wellbeing at South Yorkshire Housing Association, the organisation which runs the project, said: "Working Win is a fantastic example of partnership working between national, regional and local government and health partners. 3,570 people with health conditions have been supported to find jobs or stay in employment thanks to Working Win.

"As well as specialist employment, debt and wellbeing support for individuals, we’ve helped local employers with free training and advice. It’s a ground-breaking scheme that has made a huge difference at a difficult time."

Working Win is a crucial part of the Mayoral Combined Authority’s Renewal Action Plan to support jobs and businesses in South Yorkshire and deliver a jobs-led recovery from the pandemic.

Advertisement
Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton CBE, Chair of the Sheffield City Region Education, Skills and Employability Board, said: “Staying in work is huge challenge for people with health issues. This has increased during the pandemic.

“Working Win supports people with health conditions who are at risk of redundancy, helping to stay in work. It’s helping businesses to retain great people and allowing residents with health issues to enhance their careers. I encourage all affected individuals and employers to come forward for support.”

Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson, added: "As we build back better, it’s vital that we respond to the different needs in communities. Some people with health conditions will need more support than others to say in work or find new jobs.

“Working Win has shown just how effective support like this can be and as a result of their efforts, there are hundreds of stories of personal renewal across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. That’s what our Plan for Jobs is all about – practical support that helps people back on their feet.”

The results of the full trial will be evaluated and released in 2022.

Images: Working Win

Read more...

News: More time to sign up to pioneering Working Win trial

People and businesses have more time to sign up to a research trial testing employment support for those with health problems who are struggling with work.

The aim of the trial is to assess the best type of support for those who are out of work, or struggling in their current job, due to a physical or mental health condition. So far, more than 2,700 people have signed up to take part in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw.

The innovative research trial, one of only two such projects in the UK, launched in May 2018, with the closing date for referrals originally set for March 2019. However, this has now been extended by six months, until the end of October, which gives volunteers more time to get involved.

Dan Jarvis, mayor of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority, said: "The extension is great news for the Working Win trial. It is important that we have as many people as possible signed up to take part, so that we can find out whether the new type of support being tested really is the most effective option.

"In this time of political uncertainty, it is particularly important that we have the best services in place to support people struggling with work. I fully support the NHS and Government departments who want to use the Working Win trial to find the best way to help people into good jobs, which in turn will benefit our region's economy."

Advertisement

The trial has been commissioned by Sheffield city region (SCR) with funding from NHS England. South Yorkshire Housing Association are responsible for delivering the support to those who volunteer to take part.

Being a randomised control trial, it means that people who take part will be randomly placed into one of two research groups. One group will receive the service and the other group will be provided with detailed information about existing services in their area. It tests out how effective a new type of holistic support is for people who could stay in work, or get a job, if they just had the right sort of support for physical or mental problems.

Around 3,000 more people are still needed on the trial before the window closes in October.

Businesses in Rotherham can book a free consultation and workplace health check and employees can benefit from one-to-one coaching. The Working Win project can also deliver free mental health and physical health awareness training for employers and help employees to tap into Access to Work, a Government funding scheme that can pay for specialist equipment, transport solutions or on-the-job support.

Working Win website

Images: UKSE

Read more...

News: Working Win recognised in NHS plan

More than 2,000 people are now taking part in the Sheffield City Region's (SCR) Working Win health-led research trial.

The aim of the trial is to assess the best type of support for those who are out of work, or struggling in their current job, due to a physical or mental health condition.

The innovative research trial, one of only two such projects in the UK, has also been credited in the NHS' Long-Term Plan, launched earlier this month.

Being a randomised control trial, it means that people who take part will be randomly placed into one of two research groups. One group will receive the service and the other group will be provided with detailed information about existing services in their area. It will test out how effective a new type of holistic support is for people who could stay in work, or get a job, if they just had the right sort of support for physical or mental problems.

Dan Jarvis, mayor of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority, said: "It's a great achievement to have reached this point in the Working Win trial. I'm very grateful to the 2,000 people who are giving their time for this important research, which simply couldn't take place without them.

"I hope that this trial, together with the NHS' commitment to focus on health and employment as part of their Long Term Plan, means that, nationally, we can find better solutions for people who want to work, but have so far been restricted by mental or physical health conditions.

"I'm also proud that Sheffield City Region is leading the way by pioneering this new kind of employment support. It's great to see that people in our region are the first to trial this innovative scheme, which is already making a difference to so many lives."

Advertisement

Des Breen, Medical Director for the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System, added: "We know that one of the determinates for good mental and physical health is stable employment.

“The integrated care approach looks at all things which can contribute to a person becoming ill. The NHS Long Term Plan published earlier this month sets out a commitment to integrated care where, housing, education, employment and medical care are all looked at as a whole in order to tackle the underlying causes of ill health."

The Working Win trial is being delivered locally in partnership with South Yorkshire Housing Association, which has a wealth of experience in running employment support programmes.

Niall O'Reilly, Head of Work and Wellbeing of South Yorkshire Housing Association, said: "We're incredibly grateful to the 2,000 people across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw who've signed up to Working Win.

"They're helping us test an innovative new way of supporting people with health conditions to find and sustain good work, an approach that's compassionate, strengths-based and entirely voluntary.

"The feedback we've already received from participants is really encouraging. More than 90% of people describe our service as Good or Excellent.

"There's still an opportunity for 5,500 more people to take part."

Businesses in Rotherham can book a free consultation and workplace health check and employees can benefit from one-to-one coaching. The Working Win project can also deliver free mental health and physical health awareness training for employers and help employees to tap into Access to Work, a Government funding scheme that can pay for specialist equipment, transport solutions or on-the-job support.

Working Win website

Images: Working Win

Read more...

News: Find out more about Working Win

More than 2,000 people have been referred to Sheffield city region's pioneering Working Win health-led employment trial since it launched in May this year.

The aim of the trial is to assess the best type of support for those who are out of work, or struggling in their current job, due to a physical or mental health condition.

More than 50 people have found new jobs or returned to work since the trial started.

Local employers can find out how the project can help their business at a free event in Rotherham next month.

Being a randomised control trial, it means that people who take part will be randomly placed into one of two research groups. One group will receive the service and the other group will be provided with detailed information about existing services in their area. It will test out how effective a new type of holistic support is for people who could stay in work, or get a job, if they just had the right sort of support for physical or mental problems.

Advertisement

Businesses in Rotherham can book a free consultation and workplace health check and employees can benefit from one-to-one coaching. The Working Win project can also deliver free mental health and physical health awareness training for employers and help employees to tap into Access to Work, a Government funding scheme that can pay for specialist equipment, transport solutions or on-the-job support.

An open employer learning event is taking place on the November 15 at the AMP Technology Centre in Rotherham.

Dan Jarvis, mayor of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority, said: "I'm proud that Working Win is leading the way in helping people find the right jobs, and receive the best support while they are in those jobs.

"And I would urge our businesses to take the free, individual, support that is on offer, so that we can all make South Yorkshire a place where people with physical and mental health problems are valued in the workplace.

"This is crucial not just on World Mental Health Day, but every day."

Working Win is funded by the Government's Work and Health Unit, and is being delivered in partnership with local NHS partners and South Yorkshire Housing Association.

Working Win website

Images: Working Win

Read more...

News: New health-led employment trial in Rotherham

A new health-led employment trial which will support employers to hire the right people and keep staff fit and healthy at work has been launched by Sheffield City Region (SCR) and South Yorkshire Housing Association (SYHA).

Called Working Win, this randomised control trial is being funded by the Government's Work and Health Unit and delivered in partnership with Sheffield City Region and local NHS partners. It is open to participants who are aged 18 or over, are registered with a GP in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw and who have a mental or physical health condition that they feel is a barrier to moving into employment or remaining in their current role.

Being a randomised control trial, it means that people who take part will be randomly placed into one of two research groups. One group will receive the service and the other group will be provided with detailed information about existing services in their area. It will test out how effective a new type of holistic support is for people who could stay in work, or get a job, if they just had the right sort of support for physical or mental problems.

Advertisement

Around 20% of working age adults experience a mental health condition. Fifteen million days of work a year are lost due to stress, anxiety and depression. Bad backs, shoulders and necks have similar impacts, and one-third of people with common physical health problems also experience mental health issues.

Businesses in Rotherham can book a free consultation and workplace health check and employees can benefit from one-to-one coaching. The Working Win project can also deliver free mental health and physical health awareness training for employers and help employees to tap into Access to Work, a Government funding scheme that can pay for specialist equipment, transport solutions or on-the-job support.

Dan Jarvis, mayor of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority, said: "Research has proved that that being in good work can support good health.

"That's why I'm proud that Sheffield City Region is one of the very first areas in the UK to be trialling this new dedicated and personalised support, helping people to find work, or to stay in work if they're struggling.

"I'm committed to doing all I can to tackle inequality and help people from all communities to gain the skills and opportunities that they need to fulfil their goals."

Niall O'Reilly, Head of Work and Wellbeing at SYHA, added: "Working Win provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to trial new ways of improving employment outcomes for people with physical or mental health conditions. Being out of work or suffering from work-related stress can have a range of negative impacts, making it more likely that we'll report ill health and worsening recovery from conditions like heart disease."

Working Win website

Images:

Read more...