DEPARTMENT FOR WORK
AND PENSIONS News Release (Reference EMP-099) issued by The
Government News Network on 6 August 2008
New research
concludes that more than 90 per cent of people with health
problems can be helped to return to work by following a few
principles of good health care and work place management. Simple
measures, alongside structured support for those who need extra
help, could reduce long term sickness absence and the number of
workers going on to long term incapacity benefits by up to 60 per cent.
Evidence from the review into vocational rehabilitation,
Vocational Rehabilitation: What works, for whom, and when? shows
effective return to work depends on two key strands:
1. Healthcare which includes a focus on work - this means early
intervention which is tailored to meet the individual needs.
2. Workplaces that are accommodating - incorporating a proactive
approach to supporting return to work and the temporary provision
of modified work
The Green Paper No One Written Off: reforming welfare to reward
responsibility included proposals to give people more support
through a personalised back to work programme to address their
health and skills needs precisely to address these issues.
Commenting on the review Work and Pensions Secretary James
Purnell said:
"Our radical proposals to reform the welfare system are
designed to ensure people can stay at or return to work if they
are able to. This evidence shows working can be an important step
in people's recovery. We are looking at how we can work with
employers to make sure people get the support they need in the
workplace. We have proposed doubling the amount of money we make
available to employers to adapt the workplace to accommodate
employees with specific needs."
In addition, further independent research from the Social Policy
Research Unit at the University of York and the Institute for
Employment Studies in Brighton has shown with the right support
people with mental health problems can get back into work and for
many having a job may actually help with their recovery. Poor
mental health is one of the most commonly cited reasons for
claiming Incapacity Benefit (IB). The Government has pledged to
get a million people off IB by 2015.
James Purnell continued, "Mental illness can affect anybody,
its causes are complex and everybody's recovery can be
different, but it is clear that working can be an important part
of some people's recovery, or management of their condition.
This research demonstrates we are moving in the right direction
helping people who can work back into employment and good health."
The research, from the Social Policy Research Unit at the
University of York, also found many employers and employees are
very supportive of mental health conditions.
Research conducted found the majority of people with mental
health problems, who had talked about their condition at work,
reported colleagues were positive and constructive.
Additionally, the research discovered employers were keen to
learn more about mental health issues, and would welcome more
contact with GPs about individual employees with mental health
problems so they could plan better for their return to work.
Social Policy Research Unit's Professor Roy Sainsbury, who
led the research team, said "Mental health and employment is
one of the most challenging policy issues facing the UK. While
constructive legislation and employer policies and contact between
employers, GPs and other health professionals are undoubtedly part
of the way forward in improving the employment experiences of
people with mental health conditions, long-term progress possibly
lies in changing attitudes towards mental health across all groups
in society."
Jane Aston, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for
Employment Studies who led the research with employers, says:
"The research found that early intervention is critical in
addressing mental health problems at work, and a case-by-case
approach yields the best results. Often, adjustments to the
person's role or workplace need only be minor and
inexpensive. Line managers in any organisation have a vital role
in recognising the signs of mental health problems, and being
confident enough to talk to staff about it."
Notes to editors
1. The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) review, commissioned by the
Vocational Rehabilitation Task Group and the Industrial Injuries
Advisory Council (IIAC), looked at the arguments for helping
people to recover from common health problems and accidents by
getting them back into their place of work early.
2. It demonstrated there is strong scientific evidence for many
aspects of VR and it makes good business sense for employers to
get their staff back to work.
3. The mental health and employment research, and the VR research
are part of a wider programme of study looking at the barriers
people face to work feeding in to Government's understanding
of employment issues and informing policy working towards the
Government's commitment to 80 per cent employment.
4. The Vocational Rehabilitation Task Group is made up of
representatives from business, trades unions and government, who
along with the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC)
commissioned a review; Vocational Rehabilitation: What works, for
whom, and when?
5. The report Mental Health & Employment can be found at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2007-2008/rrep513.pdf
Website http://www.dwp.gov.uk