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Turning Point will provide its expertise in substance use, mental health and learning disabilities, and Rightsteps will offer key insight into workplace wellbeing as part of a government-backed initiative to tackle the rise in the number of people out of work due to ill-health.
Last November, Sir Charlie Mayfield’s landmark Keep Britain Working Review, found that one in five working-age adults are now out of work due to ill health – 800,000 more than in 2019. Without intervention, this number is projected to reach 1.4 million by 2030.
The report also highlighted that the UK employment among disabled people stands at 53%.
According to The Institute for Employment Studies (IES), the UK ranks among the worst performers in most areas when compared with 14 other European countries in the employment of workers with long term ill health or disabilities.
The Keep Britain Working Review highlighted, through international comparisons, that better retention, early intervention, and workplace health standards can reverse these trends.
In response, the government agreed to work with organisations to create healthier, more inclusive workplaces, reduce economic inactivity, and improve outcomes for individuals, employers and society.
A three-year partnership, led by Sir Mayfield, has so far seen 150 organisations employing around 1.5 million workers, 10 mayoral authorities and representatives from all the nations in the UK come together as part of the Vanguard phase – the government’s pledge to make it an employer led movement.
The Vanguard employers include names like Transport for London, BP, John Lewis and Google, small and mid-size employers across public and private sectors and several providers of workplace health services.
These organisations will be the early adopters of the report’s key recommendation of a ‘healthy working lifecycle’, which aims to reduce sickness absence, improve return-to-work rates, and increase disability employment rates.
The government’s aim is to take the learnings from the Vanguard phase to develop a voluntary certified standard by 2029.
Turning Point is an employer of over 5000 people, including a significant number of colleagues who have previously been economically inactive due to mental health related issues and/or disabilities.
Dave Lewis, principal at Rightsteps, said Turning Point was uniquely placed to support the implementation of the review’s recommendations.
It will contribute as an employer, a health and social care provider, and as a provider of evidence-based employee wellbeing support.
“Turning Point’s expertise across mental health, substance use, learning disability, and employment support aligns directly with the areas identified as barriers to work and make us a natural partner in embedding inclusive standards,” said Lewis.
“Rightsteps, which provides mental health and wellbeing solutions for employers and employees, is well-placed to meet the review’s requirement for specialist providers and practitioners capable of supporting employers with health assessments, coaching, mental health services, and integrated workforce support.
“This is also an opportunity for us to amplify the voices of the people we support.”