The Department for Work and Pensions Is Expanding the WorkWell Pilot: What You Need to Know

Earlier this week, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced a major expansion of the WorkWell pilot. But what is WorkWell, and why does it matter for work and health?

What Is WorkWell?

WorkWell is a government-funded programme that supports partnerships between:

• Regional health systems (Integrated Care Boards)

• Local authorities

• The local Jobcentre network.

The funding is used to design and deliver local work and health services, tailored to the needs of the regional working-age population.

The pilot was initially funded with £64 million across 15 regions. The government has now confirmed a nationwide rollout across England, bringing total investment to £259 million.

If WorkWell is based in England, what about support for other regions of the United Kingdom? 

Health and work pilots and services exist in other parts of the United Kingdom and have done in the past. An example from previous years in Scotland is the Health and Work support Pilot which ran in Dundee and Fife from 2018-2020.

The RCS service is based in Wales and provides health and work support to both individuals and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) - businesses with up to 250 employees. Targeting this profile of organisations is helpful because smaller organisations are less likely to access occupational health support.

In some regions of Wales, such as Conwy, the funding for the RCS services will come to an end in early 2026. It is important to note that the WorkWell funding expansion announcement applies to England only, which may leave a resource and support gap in other regions of the UK. 

Why Is Dedicated Funding for Work and Health Needed?

Although the National Health Service provides universal access to healthcare, occupational health has never been part of core NHS provision. Access to specialist work and health support therefore depends largely on what an employer chooses to provide.

As a result:

• Only around 30% of employed people are estimated to have access to occupational health services.

• People out of work are even less likely to have any access at all.

At the same time, almost 3 million people in the UK are out of work due to long-term sickness. This points to a clear gap in support for people at the interface between health, work, and employment.

What Actually Happens in WorkWell?

WorkWell will be different in different parts of the country. Regions can use the funding differently, but the core aim is the same: to provide work and health support.

In practice, this may include:

• Clinicians working alongside Jobcentre staff,

• Access to physiotherapy

• Access to mental health interventions

• Support with return-to-work planning.

More mature WorkWell services should also be deploying occupational health expertise for complex cases and clinical supervision. Certain health conditions, treatments, workplace risks, and job roles require specialist occupational health input to manage safely and effectively.

How are Specialised Work and Health Services Different From the Fit Note?

Health problems affecting work rarely resolve in a single consultation. GP appointments are short, and the Fit Note can only go so far in addressing complex workplace realities.

Specialised work and health services should offer:

• Time to explore the underlying work–health issues

• Continuity of support over time 

• Access to specialist input, including occupational health input, where needed.

What Has WorkWell Achieved So Far?

According to the government announcement:

• 25 000 people have used WorkWell services to stay in or return to work

• 48% of service users reported mental ill health as their main barrier to work

• 59% were out of work at their first appointment.

The announcement also includes a case study of an individual experiencing work-related stress, concerned about needing sickness absence in the future. The service user described receiving practical advice and continuity of care through their local WorkWell service.

What Does This Mean for Employers?

The early message from WorkWell is: targeted work and health support helps reduce sickness absence and improves retention during ill health.

For employers, this has three implications:

1. Invest in work and health support for your own workforce, tailored to your organisation and available faster than public services.

2. If your organisation is based in an area of the United Kingdom where there is no WorkWell scheme or support, consider deeper investment in occupational health for your workforce to get the basics right 

3. Be ready to engage with WorkWell services, as employees may return with recommendations that require employer input or adjustment.

What Does WorkWell Mean for People of Working Age?

People of working age in England will now have an additional route to specialist work and health support, particularly valuable when problems first emerge. Early engagement is likely to improve outcomes and reduce the risk of long-term economic inactivity due to ill health. 

What Does The Funding Announcement Mean for WorkWell Leaders?

With new investment in existing programmes and new services launching across the country, WorkWell leaders have an opportunity to strengthen their offer.

Engaging occupational health expertise particularly for complex cases, clinical governance, and service development, will be key to delivering safe, effective, and credible work and health services at scale.

WorkWell leaders should also prioritise building an evidence base that enables expansion of similar services across the United Kingdom, which otherwise risk getting left behind. 

How Insight Workplace Health Can Help

Government-funded programmes like WorkWell show what’s possible when work and health support is timely, joined-up, and specialist-led. However, access to these services remains uneven across the UK, and many employers cannot rely on public provision alone.

Insight Workplace Health provides independent occupational health services that help employers manage health issues early, reduce sickness absence, and support people to stay in or return to work safely.

Our services include:

• Management referrals and fitness for work advice

• Mental health assessments and support

• Musculoskeletal assessments

• Case management for complex or long-term absence

• Strategic occupational health advice for employers

Whether you are looking to complement public services like WorkWell, or need reliable occupational health support where no funded schemes exist, our team can help.

Find out more about our occupational health services, or: Get in touch here to discuss how we can support your organisation