Not About Pressure – All About Progress: Discover WorkWell

Are you currently out of work due to a health concern, but looking for support in returning to work? Or perhaps you are employed but currently off work sick? Maybe you’re not off work but you are struggling at work due to a health condition? The WorkWell team might be able to help you.

The WorkWell programme aims to help people start, stay in, and succeed at work, and it is aimed at people who find themselves in the circumstances explained above. If it isn’t you, perhaps you know someone who could benefit from this service.

WorkWell can provide support with physical and mental health conditions, and it’s an entirely voluntary programme – you choose whether to take part, you can choose to leave at any time, and you won’t face any benefits sanctions if you are in receipt of benefits.

WorkWell is a national programme that has support from both the Government and the NHS. In Lancaster district, it is a partnership between Lancaster City Council and Lancaster District CVS, who have employed four fabulous health and wellbeing coaches to help anyone joining the programme.

“Supporting someone to move forward in their life and find their own answers is really rewarding,” said Anna Maxwell, one of the new coaches.

The purpose of WorkWell isn’t to force you to get a job, or to judge you for not working, or for finding work a struggle. Instead, it’s to help you to make progress with the health conditions that might be getting in the way of work. And if you do have a health condition that affects your working life, there’s a good chance it affects other aspects of your life too. WorkWell could help you improve your quality of life right across the board.

The programme begins with a personal assessment of your needs. A health and wellbeing coach will help you to develop goal-based plans around the issues that matter to you, providing you with opportunities to find out about other community services that could help. You could even get support through the programme to help your employer to understand your needs and to make reasonable workplace adjustments.

You can find out more about WorkWell and refer yourself for support by emailing [email protected], calling 01524 582000 and asking for a call back from the WorkWell team, or by visiting www.lancaster.gov.uk/workwell.