A new multimillion-pound plan aims to guarantee a healthy working life to everyone in West Yorkshire, through new personalised support for people who are out of work because of a disability or health condition.
The region’s £37 million plan for healthy working life has been co-created with the NHS following consultation with residents and employers. It aims to grow the economy and put more money in people’s pockets by supporting those with sickness or disability into secure, well-paid work.
By bringing health services together with providers of employment support – including job centres, charities, councils and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority – the region’s Mayor and NHS leadership have pledged to deliver the “healthiest residents and workforce in England by 2040.”
They will do this by ending the approach of public services working in isolation from each other, which fails to acknowledge the full needs of a person who is being held back unfairly by a health condition. Instead, by providing a joined-up approach, patients will receive a wrap-around service made possible by devolution. For example, individuals may receive expert employment advice as part of their NHS treatment or care pathway.
Mayor Tracy Brabin said the plan marked a “watershed moment” for West Yorkshire, where the right support would help to ensure that everyone who was able to work, could.
The ambitious regional plan has been made possible by the UK Government’s Plan for Change. This aims to boost living standards and grow the economy by unlocking work for the 2.8 million people who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness, including by funding and devolving services so they can be joined up at a regional level to have a bigger impact.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “We’ve spoken to people across our great region who are living with health conditions, and the answer was clear – too many people feel written off from good health and good work when the right support could transform their lives.
“Today marks a watershed moment for our region. By joining up health, skills and work with a multimillion-pound plan that’s backed by the government, we’ll ensure that everyone can get the personalised support they need to succeed.
“To grow our economy we must unlock the potential of everyone in it, and that includes giving those with health conditions a fair chance to flourish. Through our strong regional partnership, we’ll build a healthier, wealthier West Yorkshire.”
Rob Webster CBE, Chief Executive of the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “This is good news for people in West Yorkshire and the wider region. We know good work is a route to good health. We also know that there are people in West Yorkshire who are economically inactive due to their health conditions who want to be supported to stay in work or get back into work.
“We have a history of good collaboration in West Yorkshire and will use this resource to show how better, joined up support for people can change lives.”
The launch of the plan follows the selection of Wakefield by the government to be the first place in the country to trial a new, more personalised Jobs and Careers Service for jobseekers.
Under the pilot, the jobcentre will test bold new ideas, including working more closely with local employers to provide clear pathways into good jobs. The reforms are aimed at involving local areas in the design and delivery of welfare services to bring an end to the Whitehall-led, one-size-fits-all approach.
