Ben Howlett
Chief Executive, CuriaAs the Government unveils the new WorkWell pilot initiative to Integrate Work and Health Services across 15 local areas with £64 million in funding, CEO of Curia Ben Howlett asks if this is a gimmick or something that will transform lives?
In a move to enhance the integration of employment and health support, the UK Government has unveiled the WorkWell pilot initiative, backed by £64 million in funding across approximately 15 local areas.
In a move to enhance the integration of employment and health support, the UK Government has unveiled the WorkWell pilot initiative, backed by £64 million in funding across approximately 15 local areas. Addressing Chief Executives of Integrated Care Boards and Local Authorities, Alex Fitzpatrick, WorkWell Deputy Director, expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of fostering collaboration to support the fourth pillar of Integrated Care Services (ICS).
WorkWell, unveiled during the Spring Budget 2023, aims to seamlessly integrate local employment and health support for individuals with disabilities or health conditions, facilitating their journey to start, stay, and succeed in work. The initiative aligns with the Government’s broader agenda to harmonise work and health support and encourages local partnerships to participate in testing future government work and health initiatives.
WorkWell a ‘place-based’ Approach
The pilot initiative, set to follow a place-based approach in alignment with ICS’s strategic aims, underscores the importance of good-quality work for the economic, mental, and physical health and well-being of communities. The WorkWell service, locally led and designed, will respond to the unique needs of each area’s population.
Chief Executive Matthew Taylor of the NHS Confederation welcomed the Government’s emphasis on local leadership, highlighting the potential for WorkWell services to contribute to better health and well-being in communities. Recognising the correlation between good-quality work and health outcomes, Taylor emphasised the role of work in preventing health deterioration and reducing pressure on health services.
The WorkWell initiative encompasses two principal components of funding. Firstly, £3.5 million is allocated for new Work and Health Integration leadership posts within Integrated Care Boards, aiming to boost leadership capacity across local partners. Secondly, approximately £57 million will be available for Integrated Care Boards, in collaboration with local authorities and Jobcentre networks, to design and deliver WorkWell pilot services. The funding spans 2023/24 to 2025/26 and includes a National Support Offer to facilitate shared learning and provide expert support to local WorkWell services.
The WorkWell pilot areas, not confined to predetermined geographies, will be selected through a grants competition, and applications will be accepted from local partnerships of Integrated Care Boards and local authorities. Each area will be required to specify the number of participants they expect to support, contributing to the overall aim of assisting 59,000 individuals over the life of the WorkWell pilot.
The three core objectives for WorkWell vanguard areas include delivering a holistic work and health service, advancing an integrated local work and health strategy, and participating in a national learning programme. These objectives underscore the initiative’s commitment to providing comprehensive support, fostering collaboration among local service providers, and contributing to a broader national learning framework.
The forthcoming WorkWell prospectus, set to be published in the coming weeks, will provide detailed information on the application process. Interested areas will express their interest in becoming a vanguard area, with successful applicants to be announced by April 2024. Upon selection, vanguard areas will be tasked with developing fully costed delivery and workforce plans, preparing for the implementation of WorkWell services from April to September 2024, and going live with local services from October 2024, subject to approval.
As the details in the letter may be subject to change, applicants are advised to stay informed, with decisions related to proposed grant funding subject to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) governance. Alex Fitzpatrick expressed anticipation for the collaboration and delivery of this promising initiative, emphasising its potential impact on communities across the nation.
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Final Thought:
Is the WorkWell announcement a gimmick, or something that will actually transform lives? The effectiveness of the WorkWell announcement hinges on several key factors that will be crucial in determining its impact on the integration of employment and health support in the UK. Firstly, the successful selection and engagement of approximately 15 local areas through a grants competition will be pivotal. The ability of these areas to effectively implement and tailor WorkWell services to the unique needs of their populations will be a significant measure of success. Given the variability of the service delivery sector in disparate communities across the UK, this is likely to be challenging.
Furthermore, the allocation of £64 million in funding across the selected areas, particularly the distribution between new Work and Health Integration leadership posts and the collaboration with local authorities for designing and delivering pilot services, will play a critical role. The utilisation of this funding to enhance leadership capacity and develop innovative, locally responsive initiatives will be indicative of the initiative’s potential impact.
In fairness to the Government, the comprehensive approach outlined, focusing on a holistic work and health service, integrated local strategy, and participation in a national learning program, sets a robust framework and should be welcomed. The successful achievement of these core objectives will demonstrate the initiative’s commitment to providing effective support, fostering collaboration, and contributing to a broader national learning framework.
Ultimately, the assessment of the WorkWell announcement’s effectiveness will be contingent on its ability to translate funding and strategic objectives into tangible improvements in the wellbeing and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities or health conditions, aligning with the broader vision of ICSs. Given that many ICSs remain unable to deliver even a minimum standard of service, it is important for the Government to choose areas that appropriately established to ensure that the programme delivers as effectively as possible.