As this month marks National Disability Awareness Month, Shaw Trust convey how better support for disability in the workplace can unlock hidden talent and play a key role in addressing Britain’s labour shortage, offering benefits to both individuals and businesses.
David Harper
Acting Managing Director of Community Health and WellbeingIt’s widely recognised that a shortage of labour is one of the biggest obstacles to growth in the UK right now. But a record number of working age people experiencing ill-health is exacerbating the situation. A recent report by the Health Foundation made for grim reading: more than a fifth of the working age population have health conditions that restrict the type or amount of work they can do.
There was some good news though – we’re supporting more people back into work. Since 2013, the number of people in employment with ‘work-limiting conditions’ has more than doubled to 3.9 million. But these people are three times more likely to leave their jobs than those in good health. Clearly, more support is needed to unlock the potential of Britain’s hidden talent pool.
The Health-Employment Link
Lord Darzi’s report on the state of the NHS in England addressed its role in helping people get back to work – not only to contribute to national prosperity, but also because the evidence is unequivocal that good work is good for our health. Experts agree that those with health conditions and disabilities should be supported to stay in or return to work, when possible, because it aids recovery, improves health, reduces poverty, and enhances overall well-being. But it’s not just these individuals that benefit, businesses could also benefit from a wealth of talent who could be adding real value with the right support in place.
To reveal Britain’s ‘hidden talent’ we must remove the barriers preventing people from finding good work, whether physical (inaccessible work environments could lack ramps and accessible bathrooms), social (unconscious bias and/or lack of willingness to make workplace adjustments), technological (websites and systems not designed with accessibility features), or structural (lack of support for employers).
It’s something we understand at Shaw Trust, as a charity dedicated to helping people to find secure and meaningful work as the way to a better life. Our vision is a future where good employment is accessible to all in society, irrespective of their circumstances.
However, this is a big vision, requiring big changes to the way Britain thinks and works. We know we cannot do this alone, so partnership has become critical to our mission.
For example, historically, health and employment support have been accessed separately – you might go to your GP for a sick note, but you wouldn’t approach them for support with finding a job if your health has been a barrier. We’ve worked hard to change this, and now work with primary and secondary care as part of our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) programmes, becoming part of the health service by embedding our employment specialists in community health teams.
Shaw Trust: Transforming Lives Through Disability Employment Support
We’re currently Britain’s largest provider of IPS services, which supports people with mental and physical health problems to find jobs (and keep them, in difficult times), by providing personalised, wraparound support. This means that finding good work becomes a core part of the treatment a person receives, and that employment specialists work not only with the person looking for a job, but also with their GP, mental health support worker, and employer. To succeed, this kind of support must be local, and those providing it need strong local knowledge and relationships with health services, employers, and communities.
And it certainly is succeeding, with 40 – 50% of those referred through IPS programmes going on to find work, compared to 10 – 12% on traditional programmes. This has reduced the caseload for GPs, with fewer repeat visits from patients who have been successfully supported into work on the IPS programme. But perhaps the most powerful evidence is the difference it’s made to the lives of the people we support.
Case Study: Jamie’s Story
Jamie (52) was referred to our IPS programme in 2023. Diagnosed with psychosis and battling substance addiction, Jamie found himself stuck in a vicious cycle of despair. Through Shaw Trust’s IPS programme, and working with our team, Jamie rediscovered a long-buried ambition of becoming an actor.
They worked together to develop a plan – getting an equity card, securing an agent, and connecting with the right industry professionals. Jamie began to make industry contacts, and within months, had secured his first acting role in a short film. Shortly after, he was approached by CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) to record an advert, a project that aligned perfectly with his mission of sharing his story to help others see that recovery is possible.
Now, 2.5 years sober and drug-free, with two films and an advert under his belt, and more offers flooding in, Jamie’s career as an actor is only just beginning. But more than that, he is living his dream of making a difference.
Final Thought: The Path Forward
This is what IPS is about – not just getting people into ‘jobs’, but helping people find good work which aligns with their talents, interests, and values. And the evidence is clear – by removing barriers and offering the right support, we can tap into a wealth of hidden talent, which very well may be the key to solving Britain’s labour shortage.
To gain insight into Chamber UK’s other articles celebrating National Disability Awareness month, please click here.