Commissioning WorkWell for ICBs

Contact us

Commissioning WorkWell for ICBs

Contact us

WorkWell is coming – we’re ready to support ICBs.

The number of people out of work and managing health conditions is rising. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that 3 million people are economically inactive due to long-term sickness.

WorkWell is here to change that.

With the Government announcing £259m in funding for a WorkWell roll-out across England, we’re ready to be your strategic delivery partner – with proven success in two WorkWell pilots.

We understand WorkWell, and have the results to prove it:

Almost a quarter of 15 national pilot starts were achieved by our two pilots alone.

We deliver WorkWell North Central London and WorkWell North West London – which have supported around 6,000 people to date.

84% of participants reported wellbeing improvements.

21% of those who completed the programme started, stayed in, or returned to work.

Our operational performance

Our reporting shows a service that responds quickly, manages caseloads tightly, and maintains high satisfaction:

First contact within 48 hours

Caseload per coach under 30

Customer satisfaction score above 90%

Participant signposting to local services recorded and tracked

How we support ICBs

Benefits of partnering with us include:

  • Biggest employment charity in the UK focusing on specialist employment services and integrated health models – e.g. WorkWell, IPS in primary and secondary care, and community prescribing models.
  • Quick and efficient mobilisation: Our knowledge of local health and care systems, extensive supply chain, and scalable support model means we can mobilise at pace.
  • Strong local partnerships: Our services join up a wide network of health, community, and non-clinical support, rooted in our deep understanding of the health sector and your local community’s needs.
  • Employment sector expertise: We have close relationships with local employers, community organisations, and support services. These help us create an integrated health, work and skills system for each participant – and enabled us to support over 34,000 people to start or remain in work during 2024-25.
  • Experience and results: Our two WorkWell pilots in North Central London and North West London achieved almost 6,000 starts – a quarter of the national total.

What sets us apart

ICBs need fast mobilisation, joined-up pathways and clear performance management.

We designed our model with commissioners, and embed our own mental health and physical health practitioners within our services. This eases pressure on the NHS and gives the people on our programmes quick access to support. In fact, part of the success behind our WorkWell pilots is this rapid, direct link between participants and practitioners.

We also understand the Government’s priority around economic inactivity, which aligns with our mission to help people find good work. We know that good work can aid health recovery, help people find their purpose, unlock their potential, and improve their quality of life. So, we specialise in work and health support and are:

  • Experienced in delivering joined-up services across health, skills and work through WorkWell, Connect to Work and IPS. In 2024, we were awarded the IPS Grow Exemplary Quality Kitemark.
  • Committed to giving people the right support, at the right time. We do this through pioneering the ‘single front door’ approach to accessing support services, across all our programmes.
  • Impacting systems, as well as people and their communities. You can read more about this in our 2024-25 impact report.

To discuss commissioning WorkWell or other work and health support, email partnerships@shaw-trust.org.uk

How we’re transforming lives through good work

Download good work transforms lives transcript

Frequently asked questions

WorkWell is a locally designed and integrated health and employment support programme. It gives personalised, holistic support to people who can’t start, keep, or return to work due to a health problem or disability.

Launched by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as a key part of the government’s Get Britain Working strategy, WorkWell aims to tackle economic inactivity and support up to 250,000 people into work.

WorkWell provides employment support for disabled people, help getting back to work after illness and support to stay in work with a health condition.

It specifically targets people who:

  • Have physical or mental health issues.
  • Are at risk of falling out of work due to ill health.
  • Are at risk of long-term sickness absence.
  • Have a disability and/or health barrier.
  • Are from marginalised groups.

DWP has ringfenced £259m of funding to invest in WorkWell over the next three years*, given directly to ICBs. Funding is allocated based on population size and a ‘need’ index, which looks at disability, inactivity, deprivation, health conditions and benefit claimants. Clustered ICBs can pool funding to run a single service across multiple regions. As an ICB, you’ll be asked to design and deliver your own programme based on local needs and services.

*Subject to successful implementation of services and the annual autumn budget.

WorkWell offers unique health and employment support because it looks holistically at health, disability, skills and work. Benefits include:

  • Integrated with local services and specialist healthcare teams.
  • 360-degree approach, covering early intervention and both in-programme and follow-on support.
  • National team to aid programme roll-out.
  • Funding for a learning and change manager, to act as a strategic lead in your region.
  • Comprehensive WorkWell Toolkit for recruiting, training and developing coaches, sharing learnings and designing support models.

Yes. A snapshot audit** from our pilots showed that WorkWell health and employment support frees up capacity for health services. 80% needed fewer appointments, and there was a 28% reduction in the number of participants’ appointments, following referral.

** Audit of 10 patients referred to WorkWell between October 2024 and March 2025.

Frequently asked questions

WorkWell is a locally designed and integrated health and employment support programme. It gives personalised, holistic support to people who can’t start, keep, or return to work due to a health problem or disability.

Launched by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as a key part of the government’s Get Britain Working strategy, WorkWell aims to tackle economic inactivity and support up to 250,000 people into work.

WorkWell provides employment support for disabled people, help getting back to work after illness and support to stay in work with a health condition.

It specifically targets people who:

  • Have physical or mental health issues.
  • Are at risk of falling out of work due to ill health.
  • Are at risk of long-term sickness absence.
  • Have a disability and/or health barrier.
  • Are from marginalised groups.

DWP has ringfenced £259m of funding to invest in WorkWell over the next three years*, given directly to ICBs. Funding is allocated based on population size and a ‘need’ index, which looks at disability, inactivity, deprivation, health conditions and benefit claimants. Clustered ICBs can pool funding to run a single service across multiple regions. As an ICB, you’ll be asked to design and deliver your own programme based on local needs and services.

*Subject to successful implementation of services and the annual autumn budget.

WorkWell offers unique health and employment support because it looks holistically at health, disability, skills and work. Benefits include:

  • Integrated with local services and specialist healthcare teams.
  • 360-degree approach, covering early intervention and both in-programme and follow-on support.
  • National team to aid programme roll-out.
  • Funding for a learning and change manager, to act as a strategic lead in your region.
  • Comprehensive WorkWell Toolkit for recruiting, training and developing coaches, sharing learnings and designing support models.

Yes. A snapshot audit** from our pilots showed that WorkWell health and employment support frees up capacity for health services. 80% needed fewer appointments, and there was a 28% reduction in the number of participants’ appointments, following referral.

** Audit of 10 patients referred to WorkWell between October 2024 and March 2025.

Why partner with us?

Our ICB partners say:

In addition to consistently delivering on targets, your team continues to endeavour to deliver the best possible service for local people and embrace new innovation, engagement and partnerships to do so. Thank you.

Sarah Morgan, Chief People Officer, North Central and North West London Integrated Care Boards

Staff are very supportive. They take a holistic approach, as well as going above and beyond to help clients move forward, and prepare them to be able to work with us in the future and get back to work. Great partners to have co-locating with any service, long may it continue.”

Lawrence at BOOST Barnet, an employment and skills service

I was under a lot of stress from work and wasn’t feeling supported in managing my work life balance…. My work could see that I was trying my best to stay in work and get the support that I needed. I’m still with my employer, I’m focusing on my health, I’ve got so much more work life balance, and it started with WorkWell.

Sadie, WorkWell participant

WorkWell has been incredible. It facilitated my Neurodiversity and empowered me to find and maintain transparency on working with a disability… My coach was inspiring, and helped during difficult health and employment struggles. I would 100% recommend.

Reece Smith, WorkWell participant placed into a paid nursery apprenticeship

You’ve been so helpful and honestly gone above and beyond to give me the best possible chance I can have. I’ve been out of work for months at a time previously…Having our weekly meetings really helped keep me motivated and accountable that I didn’t just give up.”

RW, WorkWell participant placed in a contract role in Watford

Before I started working with Shaw Trust, I was in a really low place. I had been off work recovering from cancer for almost three years… [and had] to adjust to a new way of living…My Adviser has been so patient and supportive, helping me build my confidence.

DR, WorkWell participant

Contact us about WorkWell

Tell us where you want to deliver WorkWell and where you are in your planning. Complete the form or email partnerships@shaw-trust.org.uk

Our partnerships team will reply within two working days.