WorkWell teams in Cumbria celebrate national health prize win

Cumbria’s WorkWell service is celebrating success at a national awards ceremony.

The programme, which helps people overcome health-related barriers to starting and staying in work, won gold in the ‘Making a Difference’ category at the Urgent Health UK Awards last week.

WorkWell brings together the NHS, local authorities, the Department for Work and Pensions and other partners. It began in October 2024, initially as a national pilot.

This recent award was for the combined South and North Cumbria WorkWell programmes, delivered by Cumbria Health on behalf of the two Integrated Care Boards - Lancashire and South Cumbria, and North East and North Cumbria.

In South Cumbria, 400 participants have received support. Of these, 20 per cent remained in work, while 18 per cent returned to work or found new employment.

Charlotte Moul, head of work and health programmes for Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, said: “We are incredibly proud of the South Cumbria team and this award recognises the strength of partnership working behind WorkWell, as well as the team's focus on helping people overcome health-related barriers to work.

“They have exceeded all expectations, managing to develop a genuinely integrated, person-centred model across a large rural area, that treats good work as part of good health.”

South Cumbria has gained national recognition for embedding WorkWell in primary care. Through the Primary Care Innovation Fund, the team tested ways to connect GP practices with work and health support, enabling earlier intervention for people at risk of leaving work because of ill health.

This led to Barrow being invited to join the national fit note pilot, further recognising the area’s innovative approach.

The Team Barrow Work and Health Fund has strengthened the referral pathway. Funded services include BEATS at Barrow Leisure Centre, offering MSK, exercise and physical activity support; Mind in Furness, providing six weeks of guided self-help and mental health support; and Inspira, delivering specialist employability help with CVs, interviews, skills and training.

Mrs Moul added: “Together, these partnerships mean that people can access coordinated health and employment support through the WorkWell pathway, tailored to the barriers they are experiencing.

“It is a free service and participation is voluntary - as part of the offer, participants have access to a Work and Health Coach. Together, they will agree realistic and reasonable next steps that can form part of a personalised support plan.

“Of those that have participated so far, 96 per cent have said they are satisfied (seven per cent) or very satisfied (89 per cent) with the service.”

Suzy Ryan, head of communities for Cumbria Health, said: “We could not be prouder to be recognised by the Urgent Health UK awards. This award reflects Cumbria Health’s values in action and our commitment to making a meaningful difference to the lives and health of people across Cumbria.

“It recognises the hard work, dedication and perseverance of our WorkWell team, alongside the strong partnerships that make this support possible.

“By working together, we are helping people access joined-up, person-centred and effective support that recognises their individual circumstances, their strengths and their aspirations. Keeping people at the heart of everything we do means supporting them not only to start or stay in work, but to build confidence, improve their wellbeing and move towards the goals that matter to them.”

Earlier this month, former Health Secretary Dame Patricia Hewitt, a national leader in health and care reform, met with the WorkWell team in Lancashire and South Cumbria, and hailed the programme as “exactly the kind of local partnership that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is backing. Lancashire and South Cumbria’s WorkWell pilot helped convince the government to invest another quarter of a billion pounds for a national roll-out over the next three years. I congratulate everyone involved on this significant achievement”.