Welcome

Health Works Training

Please complete pre-training questionnaire

Session Plan

Training aim and objectives The links between health and work Who is fit for work? Employability When and how to talk about work Action planning Questions and close

Aim

To raise awareness of the links between health and work and explore ways of incorporating this into practice.

Learning Outcomes

Recognise the role of meaningful occupation in everyday life.

Know when and how to raise the issue of work with your patients.

Be clearer and more confident about your role in supporting patients with work matters.

Be aware of the HealthWorks team resources available.

Be able to use these resources to provide your patients with basic information about local work related support services.

Health & Work

The evidence tells us that there are considerable costs associated with (long term) unemployment.

At the individual level:Significantly more ill health (physical and psychological) and an increase in the likelihood of an early death from preventable disease or by suicide

At a societal level:Higher costs for medical and social care and economic loss of income tax returns

Is work good for health?

Being in work is one of a range of factors recognised to influence good health

For most adults of working age, including those with disabilities and common health problems, a return to work can:promote recovery and aid rehabilitationimprove physical and mental health and wellbeingreduce social exclusion and poverty

(Waddell G, Burton AK. Is work good for your health and well-being? 2006)

Who is ‘fit for work’?Activity

Employability

“Employability encompasses all the things that enable people to increase their chances of getting a job, staying in, and progressing further, in work”.

Scottish Government, Workforce Plus, 2006

For each individual, there will be different reasons why they are not achieving what they would like in employment.

Is work good for health?

Being in work is one of a range of factors recognised to influence good health

For most adults of working age, including those with disabilities and common health problems, a return to work can:promote recovery and aid rehabilitationimprove physical and mental health and wellbeingreduce social exclusion and poverty

(Waddell G, Burton AK. Is work good for your health and well-being? 2006)

Asking About Work

Asking your patients about work is an opportunity to improve their health chances.

When with a patient his/her employment status can be gathered both formally and informally

You and your team will decide when best to incorporate this on the care pathway.

W.O.R.K. Mnemonic

Resources

For Patients:Issue the Z Card (hard copies available from Health Information Resources at Summerfield House http://www.nhsghpcat.org type in “work” and click “go”)

For increasing your knowledge:Hi-Net page:

www.hi-netgrampian.org/hinet/7049.html

Action Planning

Questions & Close Email: nhsg.healthworks@nhs.net