Employability & Health
(Awareness Session)
Co-facilitated by:
Maggie Vooght
Working Health Services
NHS Ayrshire & Arran
Anne McGuire
Employer & Partnership Manager
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 Health
Evidence 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
Leisure
Sleep
Work
The Non-Working Day
?
Sleep
Sleep
?
?
Sleep
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 Pathway
An employability pathway describes the process and services that might be
required to get clients from initial engagement to sustainable employment.
Response
Universal
Credit
Work
Capability
Assessment
Independent
Review of
Sickness
Absence
The Work
Programme
Work Choice
WORK
Access to Work
Fit Note
Early
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?
volunteer
cashier
GP
podiatrist
income adviser
social worker
health visitor
psychologist
occupational therapist
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.
Employability & Health
Contacts:
Maggie Vooght
maggie.vooght@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
Anne McGuire –
anne.mcguire1@dwp.gsi.gov.uk