More people in West Yorkshire will receive wraparound help and
employment support when they visit their local GP, hospital,
dentist or community hub, it can be announced.
The new approach is part of a radical overhaul of how people are
supported into work in West Yorkshire, with £37 million of new
funding to make life easier for people with health conditions and
disabilities, by offering access to a range of personalised
support all in one place.
The creation of West Yorkshire's Healthy Working Life Board,
which met for the very first time this week (28 July), marks a
major milestone in the region's mission to help more people into
high-quality, well-paid jobs.
Pledging to deliver the healthiest residents and workforce in
England by 2040, Mayor came together with Chief
Executive of the regional NHS Integrated Care Board Rob Webster,
to shape the new approach alongside leaders from across the
health and employment support sectors.
Together, the Board will work to deliver a bold new vision: one
joined-up system that supports people's health and employment
needs all in one place.
Speaking after the meeting, , Mayor of West Yorkshire,
said:
“This is a proud moment for West Yorkshire.
“With the backing of our Healthy Working Life Board, we're
drawing a line under the tick-box, stigmatising systems of the
past, and building something better.
“By joining up health services and employment support all in one
place, we're helping people into meaningful work that's right for
them, while treating them with the dignity and care they deserve.
“I'm incredibly grateful to all of our partners for coming
together to deliver this groundbreaking plan.”
Backed by £37 million of funding, the Healthy Working Life
initiative will break down longstanding barriers to good work, by
better integrating employment support services with health and
care services, to offer holistic, person-centred support to
everyone who needs it.
The inaugural meeting was held at The Reginald Centre in
Chapeltown, Leeds, one of the city's largest Community Hubs. The
Centre delivers a wide range of wraparound services including
employment advice, housing support, family services, and a
dedicated wellbeing pod providing clinical care in a community
setting.
The region's Healthy Working Life Board will meet regularly to
oversee the delivery of the flagship multimillion-pound
programme, and ensure it remains rooted in the needs of local
people and communities.
Rob Webster, Chief Executive of the NHS West Yorkshire
Integrated Care Board, added:
“Good work and good health go hand in hand and the work of this
Board will help ensure more people are able to stay in work and
access routes back in to work.
“Our collective commitment to collaboration is what makes the
biggest difference in West Yorkshire. Together we can make it
easier for people to access the right support, at the right time,
in a way that works for them. This will help to address the stark
health inequalities that exist across all of our places.”
Notes to editors
The full programme was announced earlier this year, and details
can be found on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority website
here,
and the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership website
here.
