Work Smart, Live Well, to help tackle barriers into work

A multi-million pound initiative is getting underway in the county aimed at removing barriers which prevent people working.  

The new integrated Northumberland health and work approach will be accessed through the Council’s existing Work Smart, Live Well service, and delivered via Northumberland Skills Employability Team. 

It will be delivered in partnership with North East Combined Authority (North East CA) and the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board and will create a simpler, joined-up system of support to help people move into good quality, sustainable jobs. 

In the UK, there are two million people who would like to work but are not participating in the labour market, often due to ill health or disability.  

In Northumberland there are 54,800 economically inactive people of working age. Of these, 20,500 are long term sick or disabled, 8,500 have caring responsibilities and 9,000 have retired early.  

While classed as ‘economically inactive,’ many volunteer or provide care to older people and children, contributing to the economy and there are a large proportion who would like to work given the right support and flexible working arrangements. 

Now a new approach aims to create a ‘coordinated, place-based employment support ecosystem’ rooted in strong partnership working.  

By bringing together a range of different programmes, the approach integrates services—particularly in health, skills, and employment— the approach looks to maximise capacity and improve outcomes for participants and employers.  

Funded by the UK Government through the North East CA and the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, the organisations also received additional funding to go further and faster on reducing economic inactivity. 

Collectively, Northumberland has been awarded £6.97 million to deliver a coordinated approach with enhanced pathways into employment for residents in Northumberland, support employers and bring forward system integration. 

The underpinning principle of the approach for Northumberland is to simplify access and this will be enabled through the establishment of an integrated ‘single front door’ triage. This will bring together different employment support pathways alongside training and skills providers and engagement with employers to provide the best possible opportunity to move people towards and into good jobs across Northumberland. 

Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council Richard Wearmouth explained: “Two of our priorities are focused on driving economic growth and tackling inequalities and we want to expand what we are doing to help more people into work. 

“It’s important we do everything we can for our residents to help build an even better future for them and the county.” 

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “The North East is an amazing place to work but too many people are facing barriers when they’re trying to find a job. 

“However, that’s all about to change as we help thousands of people back to the workplace with tailored support that tackles the issues they’re facing. 

“It’s all part of our New Deal for North East Workers, we’re helping local people secure the jobs that work for them. 

“Because when everyone can succeed, our communities and our economy thrive.” 

The integrated approach will primarily support economically inactive residents from Northumberland on their journey back into sustainable employment but will also seek to signpost residents in work to remain in employment.  

Samantha Allen, chief executive of NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board said: “This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through strong partnerships and a shared passion to tackle the underlying causes of poor health and economic inactivity. 

“By connecting our NHS services through Northumberland’s Work Smart, Live Well, we can remove barriers, improve health and wellbeing, and help more people access good, sustainable jobs. 

“For many people, this will mean, for the first time, services are joined up around them – bringing together the support they need, from healthcare and physiotherapy to job support, money advice, mental health support, and community help. 

“These NHS WorkWell services are part of our wider £19 million investment for the region which will help to unlock the potential of thousands of people who want to work but need more support to stay well to do so.”