These include the publication of a National Strategy for Mental Health and Employment in the autumn detailing expectations of employers, healthcare professionals, organisations and individuals in improving well-being in the workplace.
The following initiatives were confirmed:
· The Access to Work fund, which can be utilised to provide advice and support to disabled people and their employers, will receive a doubling of investment over the next five years (from £69m to £138m).
· The Government will undertake a consultation on their Right to Control scheme, which is aimed at offering disabled people, including those with mental health problems, more choice over the ways in which public funds are spent.
· A national strategy for Mental Health and Employment will be published in the autumn, which will particularly focus upon the expectations on healthcare organisations, employers and individuals in relation to improving workplace wellbeing.
· Jobcentre Plus will have a network of mental health experts, who should collaborate with colleagues in the NHS to offer coordinated support to those with mental health conditions.
· The DWP has asked Dr Rachel Perkins to develop a set of recommendations on how the Government could provide more effective assistance to help people with mental health problems back into employment. Dr Perkins, director of Quality Assurance and User Experience at SW London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, will be supported by Paul Farmer from MIND and Dr Paul Litchfield from BT Health.
For further information visit the Department of Work and Pensions website.