Employability & Health(Awareness Session)
Co-facilitated by:
Maggie Vooght Anne McGuireWorking Health Services Employer & Partnership Manager
NHS Ayrshire & Arran Department for Work & Pensions
Welcome
Introduction‘Housekeeping’Ground Rules
Introductions
Please briefly state:
• Your name• Role• Experience of Employability/Work Issues• Reason for attending session
Aims• WHY – should anyone talk about work & health?
• WHAT – information could be given?
• WHO – should do it?
• WHEN – is the ‘right’ time to talk about it? • HOW – is the best way to do it?
Outcomes• An awareness of the important links between
work and health
• Increased confidence and ability to discuss work/employability
• Awareness of the potential barriers facing clients seeking employment/return to work and how they may be overcome
• Access to information about appropriate support and services
WHY ?(should anyone talk about work & health)
• BACKGROUND
• DEFINITIONS
• EVIDENCE / RESEARCH
• EFFECTS OF WORK (OR LACK OF) ON HEALTH
“I'll count my health my greatest wealth, Sae lang as I'll enjoy it: I'll fear nae scant, I'll bode nae want, As lang's I get employment”
Robert Burns “Here’s To Thy Health” 1780
What Is Work?“Applying physical or mental effort using knowledge
and skills with a purpose to accomplish or achieve something”.
Work Can Be:
Full-time Part-time Voluntary Permitted Work Temporary / Permanent
What is Employability?“Employability encompasses all the things that enable
people to increase their chances of getting a job, staying in, and progressing further in work”.
(Workforce Plus; Scottish Government Employability Framework 2006)
Progressing Towards Employment: Training Education Work Placements Work Experience Voluntary Work
Evidence Base• Is work good for your health and well-being?
Waddell & Burton 2006
• Health Works -The Scottish Govt. 2009
• Health At Work- an independent review of sickness absence - Frost & Black 2011
• The Scottish Govt. Response to the review 2012
• Fitness for Work: the UK Govt. response to the review 2013
Worklessness and HealthEvidence shows that (long-term) unemployment is associated
with:
• poorer general health, somatic complaints, long-standing illness, limiting longstanding illness
• poorer mental health; more psychological distress; minor psychological/psychiatric morbidity, suicide
• higher medical consultation, medication consumption and hospital admission rate
(Waddell G, Burton AK. Is work good for your health and well-being?, 2006)
Long-Term Unemployment
Equals the health risk of smoking 10 Packs of cigarettes per DAY
(Ross -1995)
After 6 months on health benefit - 80% chance of being off work for 5 years
(Waddell and Burton 2006)
After 2 years on health benefit - more likely to retire or die.
(The Scottish Government)
The Working Day
The Non-Working Day
?
?
WHAT ?(information could be given)
• PATHWAYS
• JIGSAW – SERVICES AVAILABLE
Categories
1. OUT OF WORK
2. EMPLOYED - BUT OFF SICK
3. EMPLOYED - AT WORK BUT STRUGGLING
Employability PathwayAn employability pathway describes the process and services that might be
required to get clients from initial engagement to sustainable employment.
Response
Universal Credit
The WorkProgramme Work Choice
WorkCapability
AssessmentWORK Access to Work
Independent Review of Sickness Absence
Fit NoteEarly
Intervention Services (Pilot)
Access To Work• Additional support for those whose health or disability affects their job
• Advice to individuals and employers
• Contributes to additional costs employers would not normally be expected to meet, by up to 100%
• Must be in work or about to start a job or work trial
• Covers: Special aids and equipment Adaptations to premises and equipment Support workers Travel to work and within work Communication support at interview
Fit Note
WHO ?
? WHOSE ROLE IS IT TO HAVE BRIEF
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WORK?
addictions team
administrator
nursing assistantdietician
human resources team
health promotion staff
health visitorphysiotherapist
social worker
school nurse
charge nurse
clerical officer
psychologist
consultant
mental health worker
pharmacist support worker
learning disability worker
podiatrist
volunteer
podiatrist
community food worker
business development manager
district nurse
GPadministration assistant
occupational therapist
cashier
clinical leadincome adviserinformation officer
young carers
worker
receptionist
project worker
ward manager
criminal justice officer
WHEN ?
(IS THE ‘RIGHT’ TIME TO TALK ABOUT WORK)
• SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
• JUST THE JOB!
JUST THE JOB!
www.JustTheJob.knowledge.scot.nhs.uk
HOW ?(is the best way to do it)
THE SITUATION INFORMS THE CONVERSATION:
1.OUT OF WORK
2.EMPLOYED - OFF SICK
3.EMPLOYED - AT WORK, BUT STRUGGLING
HOW ? (to talk about work)
• Just have a conversation!!
• Know more about how to deal with someone’s answers
• Gather information about appropriate referral/signpost options
• Gain confidence (by being better informed about services & background)
Conclusions?
• Work is vitally important to the health of individuals.
• To realise an individual’s potential for work they may need the support of different services or organisations.
• We have to accept that some individuals will never be able to work, but should be offered the opportunity and support to progress and improve their quality of life.