The UK Government’s “Get Britain Working” White Paper (2024) emphasises the integration of health and employment services to support health and reduce economic inactivity. Greater Manchester is part of the national WorkWell Vanguard pilot, integrating Work and Health coaches into healthcare to enhance employability and well-being for those with health conditions.
Our Work Well Programme has been developed collaboratively between Manchester City Council, MFT Public Health Consultant, MFT MSK services and The Growth Company. WorkWell is a light-touch employment support programme funded by Manchester City Council and delivered by The Growth Company. It embeds employment advice and support within NHS settings, focusing on MSK teams initially to tackle health inequalities and break the poverty/poor health cycle.
MSK conditions are the leading cause of pain and disability in England, accounting for significant sickness absence, prolonged work absence, reduced productivity, and unemployment. In 2022, 23.4 million working days were lost due to MSK conditions. Early intervention is crucial to improve employability chances, especially for older residents and ethnic minorities who find it more challenging to return to work.
As part of this programme Work and Health coaches are integrated within MSK services to identify and support patients at risk of going off work. These coaches attend classes and clinics to promote employment support, patients needing individual support are referred to the WorkWell programme, which offers 8-12 weeks of low-intensity, light-touch support focused on ‘Move into Work’ or ‘Thrive in Work’ plans.
Three band 8a physiotherapists work one day a week to facilitate the integration of Work and Health coaches into MSK services, provide MSK education, triage waiting lists, and test and evaluate innovative delivery models. This initiative builds on a successful pilot at North Manchester General Hospital, which streamlined referral processes and expanded services across broader MSK teams.
This programme has now been rolled out in phases to all MSK teams within MFT. Training has included an overview of Health inequalities and how to have effective ‘work conversations’ with patients.
Over an 18-month pilot period, this programme aims to provide employment support to 600 individuals, enhancing their chances of returning to work and improving overall well-being. During the first quarter of the programme (December 24- April 25), 375 referrals were made by the MSK team to the Growth Company with 109 of these leading to a ‘Work plan’. The programme demonstrates the potential for a streamlined approach to support patients holistically, addressing both health and employment needs. It also highlights the importance of equitable support, particularly for older residents and ethnic minorities. The programme emphasises the need for early intervention to improve employability chances and prevent long-term economic inactivity.
By focusing on early intervention and holistic support, the programme seeks to improve employability, address skill gaps, and promote sustained workforce participation.
WorkWell education session with the NMGH team in December 2024.
WorkWell education session with the South MSK team in January 2025.
WorkWell with the Trafford MSK team in April 2025, with a guest Professional Advisor from The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (The Professional body for physiotherapists).
Video- overview of our programme.
By Diane Reid, CSS MSK Transformation Clinical Lead
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