WorkWell in North West London

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WorkWell North West London

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What is WorkWell North West London?

WorkWell is a free service that’s here to support you with any health issues that might make it hard to find or stay in a job. We’ll work with you to figure out what you need, offering support from our team and other local services.

Our team will make sure you get the right support to find or stay in the right job. A meaningful job can have a positive impact on your health and wellbeing.

NHS North West London through West London Alliance (WLA) provide WorkWell – North West London. WLA commissioned Shaw Trust to provide this service.

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Who can use WorkWell?

  • You need to be over 16.
  • You must live in or have a GP in Brent, Hammersmith, Fulham, Harrow, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Ealing, Westminster, or Kensington and Chelsea.
  • This is a voluntary service that you can stop using at anytime, if it’s not working for you.

How does the service work for you? ​

At WorkWell, we’re here to offer early help and support. We’ll work with you to understand any health-related issues that might be in your way and create a plan that fits your needs. We also connect with local services to make sure you get the right help. Together, we’ll work to overcome any barriers so you can find or keep a job that’s right for you.

Once referred onto the programme, you will meet with one of our highly trained Work and Health Coaches who will:

We’ll get to know you and understand what you need.

Together, we’ll create a plan that fits your goals.

We’ll help you overcome any health challenges with support from our team of health care specialist and local services.

You’ll get expert advice from our Occupational Health, Mental Health, and Employment specialists.

We’ll help you find jobs that interest you.

We’ll identify the skills and resources you need to get back to work.

Our goal is to help you feel confident and ready to achieve your job goals.

Provide follow up support on completion of the programme should you need it.

How to apply

We use a “No Wrong Door” approach to help you find the right service. We provide a range of local employment support programmes, including WorkWell, Connect to Work, MSK Trailblazers & IPS into Work (drug & alcohol).

No matter your situation, we’ll connect you with the right service.

To get free support for you or someone else simply fill in the form below and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss which support would be best for you.

Step 1 of 3
Who is the support for? (required)

Alternatively, you can contact us on:

Email: workwellwest@shaw-trust.org.uk Tel: 0808 196 2386

Frequently asked questions

First, you’ll be matched to a work and health coach. They’ll ask you a few questions to understand the best way to support you. These might be about your mental and physical health, living situation or work goals. You’ll then have regular appointments with your coach, as well as some online workshops. These will help you reach your work and health goals. Finally, your coach will recommend other services that might benefit you.

When you join the programme, we’ll help you decide how often you need appointments, and where to have them. Most people have weekly appointments with their work and health coach, but this can change as needed.

It’s up to you. We can schedule face-to-face appointments, phone calls or video meetings.

We’ll meet you in places that are convenient, comfortable and close to where you live or spend your time. This could be a local café, library, community hub, coffee shop, or any other space that works for you.

It depends on your work goals and the level of support you need. Most review meetings take 30 minutes to 1 hour.

WorkWell is a voluntary programme, but we do ask you to attend your appointments, or let us know if you can’t. It’s a short programme of support, so to make the most of it, try to attend your appointments regularly.

Our support is shaped by your health, goals and challenges, and what you share with your work and health coach during your first meeting (assessment). We’ll then help you with:

  • Building confidence, exploring your aims and planning your next steps
  • Holistic health and wellbeing support, including access to related health services
  • Practical strategies to manage work and health
  • Job support, like building skills, writing your CV, preparing for interviews and exploring volunteering opportunities

We also have an internal multi-disciplinary team (MDT), who can help with more specialist, condition-specific support. This includes understanding your condition, managing challenges, and finding the right adjustments and resources to help you thrive in work and life.

We’ll contact you to check your details and make sure that WorkWell is the right service for you. If you’re eligible and provide consent, you’ll be booked in for an assessment with a work and health coach. This meeting helps us understand your health, goals, and circumstances, so we can shape support around what matters most to you. We’ll then be able to support your work and health journey.

We aim to get in touch within around two working days after you submit your referral form. But, in busier times, it may take us longer to contact you.

After your initial call with us:

  • Within two working days: You’ll be contacted by your work and health coach. They’ll introduce themselves and book in your first appointment.
  • Within a further five working days: You’ll have your first appointment with your work and heath coach. That’s the point where they’ll get to know you and your goals, and start supporting your work and health journey.

Timescales can vary during busy periods, but we always aim to schedule appointments as quickly as possible.

WorkWell is a voluntary, personalised programme. The length of support depends on whether you’re in or out of work, as well as your needs and goals. For people looking for jobs, WorkWell lasts up to 16 weeks. If you’re already in a role, you’ll get support for up to 8 weeks.

No. You could be exploring your options, focusing on your wellbeing, or generally feeling unsure about work. Whatever you need, you’re welcome to join and get personalised support based on your health, goals and circumstances.

Yes. If you get a job before you finish the WorkWell programme, we’ll carry on supporting you for up to 8 weeks in your new role.

We want to help you find work that works for you. That means getting a job that fits your goals and needs. If you’re not sure what this looks like, we can help.

Yes. If you’ve completed the programme and need any extra support, we can refer or signpost you to it (with your permission). If you don’t think you need any more support, we’ll pass on any useful details, in case your circumstances change.

Our network of organisations means we can help you find work in sectors in your area – for example, healthcare, retail and construction. These sectors also have lots of other support available. If you’re looking for a role in a different industry, we can help with that, too.

WorkWell covers:

  • Brent
  • Ealing
  • Hammersmith & Fulham
  • Harrow
  • Hillingdon
  • Hounslow
  • Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
  • Westminster

No. You don’t need to provide proof of a medical condition to join WorkWell or get support.

Yes. For many people, self-employment can be an important way to return to work, and we’ll be able to support you with this.

Yes. We support people who are in work, as well as those out of work.

Yes. You must be 16 years of age or above to be eligible for WorkWell.

Yes. Although we can’t provide devices directly, we can put you in touch with an organisation that might be able to help.

We use Microsoft Teams for virtual meetings. You can access these through a weblink, so you don’t need to download any aps unless you want to.

Although we deliver WorkWell on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), our staff and services are separate to the JobCentre.

WorkWell is a voluntary service that won’t affect your benefits. We focus on the area you need support with – whether health, wellbeing or a mix.

WorkWell is a health-focused service that to remove barriers to employment. If a participants wants help with things like CV development for example we can do that too. If you are only interested in help finding a job, another service like Connetc to Work might be better for you.

Your work and health coach can put you in touch with free services that can help support your health. If we can’t find the right support for you, or there’s a long waiting list for support services, it may be possible for WorkWell to fund your treatment. This will reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

We ask for your National Insurance number to:

  • Verify your identity
  • Check whether we’ve supported you previously
  • Share information to our commissioners

Names and addresses can sometimes be similar, whereas your National Insurance number is unique to you.

Your data will be stored securely, and only used for the WorkWell service. We may share some of your information with other service providers, if you consent to do so, to give you the support you need.

Yes. WorkWell is a voluntary service, so if you change your mind about looking for work, let your work and health coach know. We can also delete your data, if you ask.

Yes. Just let us know how you’d prefer to be contacted.

Yes. We can arrange a translator for your appointments, and also put you in touch with local services that will help you develop your English skills.

Yes. We can give you, and your employer, specialist advice about reasonable adjustments. This includes your rights, and how to request reasonable adjustments.

Yes. You’re welcome to bring someone with you.

No. WorkWell is a voluntary service and joining won’t affect your benefits.

We can put you in touch with local organisations who may be able to provide you with interview clothing and digital devices. For treatments, if we can’t find the right support for you, or there’s a long waiting list, it may be possible for WorkWell to fund this for you. This will reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

We can put you in touch with local organisations who may be able to provide you with interview clothing and digital devices. For treatments, if we can’t find the right support for you, or there’s a long waiting list, it may be possible for WorkWell to fund this for you. This will reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

We don’t offer or fund courses, but we can support you with finding free courses in your area (such as at a local college).

Yes. Your work and health coach can support you with this during your one-to-one sessions, or you can book onto a group workshop.

We’ll try to contact you again, and will always follow up with a message letting you know how to get in touch with us. You can also call us on 0808 1962 386.

Yes. You’ll agree your appointment times with your work and health coach, and will also get a reminder the day before.

We’ll aim to phone you within two working days of completing the referral form. If you need to get in touch with us outside this, call: 0808 1962 386.

We understand that plans can change and something unexpected might come up, but ask that you let us know if you can no longer attend an appointment. This helps you get the most out of the programme. If you miss three appointments in a row without telling us or answering our calls, we may have to end your support

WorkWell is voluntary. You can leave the programme at any time.

Yes, you can pause your activities, but we can’t extend the length of the service.

Our focus in on helping with your health, and giving you the tools you need to contact employers. But, if you’re already in a role and need support with meeting your employer to resolve a problem, we can help.