Work and health support in East Birmingham and North Solihull
WorkWell is an early intervention work and health service that brings together health, employment and community organisations to support those currently out of work due to ill health or disability to return to work. The service also provides support to those in work who are struggling with health issues which might lead to long term sickness or unemployment.
East Birmingham and North Solihull was chosen as one of the 15 vanguard areas across the country to be part of the WorkWell programme - a £64 million, two-year Government pilot to deliver joined-up work and health support. In Birmingham, the WorkWell area spans 25 wards aligned to the East Birmingham & North Solihull Levelling Up Zone, with £1.7m Government funding provided for the 18 month pilot programme.
The organisations we are proud to be working with to provide services are:
- Birmingham Disability Resource Centre (serving Shard End & Kitts Green and Birmingham East Central Primary Care Networks)
- Sähëlï Hub (serving Washwood Heath & Nechells and Saltley & Alum Rock Primary Care Networks)
- Better Pathways (Serving Small Heath and Bordersley East Primary Care Networks)
- Colebridge Trust (Serving North Solihull Primary Care Network)
FAQs
The service has been set up to support those recently out of work due to ill health or disability to return to work and to support those in work at risk of falling into long term sickness or unemployment.
Support is provided through work and health coaches and a team of clinicians and practitioners with expertise in mental health, muscular skeletal conditions, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social prescribing and employment support.
Work and health coaches will refer people to the most appropriate services. Participants will be supported to access low level health interventions as necessary to address their identified barriers to work such as physiotherapy and talking therapies.
The service is open to anyone in East Birmingham and North Solihull who is recently out of work due to ill health or disability and those currently in work who feel they are at risk of falling into long term sickness or unemployment.
GPs and employers can make referrals here. People can also self-refer into the Service using the same form.
Yes, people are welcome to refer themselves.
Yes, as this is a Government funded pilot, only people working and/or living in East Birmingham and North Solihull can access the service.
WorkWell is for service users in East Birmingham and North Solihull. Specifically, people who live or have a GP registered in the following wards:
Alum Rock, Bickenhill (part), Bordesley Green, Bordesley & Highgate, Bromford and Hodge Hill, Castle Bromwich, Castle Vale, Chelmsley Wood, Garretts Green, Gravelly Hill, Glebe Farm and Tile Cross Heartlands, Kingshurst & Fordbridge, Nechells, Pype Hayes, Shard End, Sheldon, Small Heath, Smiths Wood, South Yardley, Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East, Tyseley & Hay Mills, Ward End, Yardley East, Yardley West and Stechford.
Referrals should be made via the Workwell referral page. Any other enquires can be made by emailing the Workwell inbox at nhsbsolicb.workwell@nhs.net.
We have chosen four organisations in East Birmingham and North Solihull to provide this service. They are:
Sähëlï Hub was founded in 1998 to address stark health inequalities experienced by ethnically diverse women in inner city areas in East & Central Birmingham. Now they work across the whole community, with both men & women from a range of backgrounds. They strive to address long-term disadvantage & improve community wellbeing through innovative, culturally sensitive services that educate, motivate, inspire & empower.
Formed in 1963, Better Pathways helps and supports people with mental health challenges, learning difficulties and learning disabilities through broad-based vocational activities within their social enterprises so that they can build the confidence to begin their employment journey.
The Colebridge Trust is a registered charity and recognised as the community development trust for North Solihull, within the West Midlands. They operate in Solihull and the surrounding areas including parts of Birmingham and Warwickshire. Their vision is a cohesive society where people are enabled to achieve their full potential and where barriers to living inclusive, happy and healthy lives are challenged through the provision of creative, innovative and enterprising activities. Each year they directly support hundreds of people through direct intervention work, linking people to local work, volunteering and training opportunities.
Birmingham Disability Resource Centre:
Established over 30 years ago, Birmingham Disability Resource Centre (DRC) is a registered charity (1034581) and leading Disabled People’s Organisation, run by disabled people, for disabled people that supports over 4,500 disabled people each year to take control of their lives and achieve their full potential in mainstream society. They achieve this through the delivery of a number of services including: employment and training, information advice and guidance, health and well-being activities, social activities, personal and skills development projects and community development activities in East Birmingham. Details of their project and services can be found at: www.disability.co.uk.
As well as the above four organisations from the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector, NHS Birmingham and Solihull, Birmingham City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, West Midlands Combined Authority, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Health and Social Care are all partners in the service.
