Four voluntary and community sector organisations have been appointed as delivery partners for a Government pilot programme to support people in their local area so they can stay and progress in work.

Earlier this year, a bid from NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board for East Birmingham and North Solihull was chosen as one of the 15 vanguard areas across the country to be part of the new £64 million, two-year Government pilot to deliver joined-up work and health support. The WorkWell area aligns to the East Birmingham North Solihull Levelling Up Zone, with £1.7m from Government over 24/25 and 25/26 for the programme.

Now, following an open procurement process, the partners have been announced as:

  • 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

Amongst other parts of the service, the delivery partners will manage the work and health coaches that support service users.

The East Birmingham North Solihull WorkWell pilot will bring together senior health professionals, employers, employment support specialists and the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector to support those currently out of work due to ill health or disability to return to work and support those in work at risk of falling into long term sickness.

David Melbourne, Chief Executive at NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board said:

“The WorkWell programme is an example of integrated system working at its best. Health and wealth are inextricably linked - fundamentally you need to be well to work and there is a direct link between poverty and people’s health outcomes. The challenges people experience are often complex and require a multitude of different agencies working in tandem to resolve. That’s why I am so pleased that we have been able to appoint four voluntary and community sector organisations to work with us. It is through partnerships like this that we can add to the social value of the money we spend on health and care services.”

Sue Roberts, Chief Executive at Better Pathways said: “Better Pathways is delighted to be working with NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board and with third sector partners on this important pilot project.

"As a mental health charity working in Birmingham for over 60 years, we understand very well the positive impact being in paid employment has on a person’s mental health and wellbeing.

"We are proud to be playing our part in making this a reality for more people in the East of the City.”

Naseem Akhtar BEM, CEO of the Sähëlï Hub said: "We are delighted to be part of WorkWell in East Birmingham.

"We know that citizens with health issues in our diverse communities can and want to work, but they need the right opportunity and support.

"Provision needs to be local and culturally sensitive to the needs of the community and through this programme we aim to use our local knowledge and understanding to reach those furthest from work.

"By breaking down health and cultural barriers, we will enable more people to achieve their goals, get into and stay in work; therefore creating a sustainable impact on inequality and endemic long-term unemployment in our communities."

Chet Parmar, CEO of the Colebridge Trust said: “The Colebridge Trust are delighted to have secured a partnership with BSol ICB for the benefit of local residents.

"WorkWell will contribute to two of our charitable priorities: 1) more people supported into work; and 2) improved health and wellbeing.

"We have successfully supported residents to overcome barriers relating to these for over 20 years.

"The pilot is yet another great opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of services delivered out in the community, as well as the benefits of working collaboratively.”

Louise Mckiernan, Chief Executive at the Disability Resource Centre said: “We are thrilled to be working with statutory and fellow voluntary sector organisations on this Government pilot project.

"More work needs to be done to support local people with health and disability related issues to stay and progress in work.

"We hope that this pilot will provide evidence of an integrated system which achieves that.”

WorkWell is a partnership of referral organisations, the central WorkWell Team, work and health coaches and a multi-disciplinary team made up 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 act independently and refer service users to the most appropriate services. Service users will also have access to a personal budget of up to £500 to purchase support required to address their barriers to work with physiotherapy and talking therapies just two of the services that will be available through this budget. 

The service will launch in October. Data suggests that around 5,000 people claiming out of work benefits in the East Birmingham North Solihull area could benefit from health and care support and we are initially aiming to reach around 1,500 in this pilot.