Issue - decisions

The Executive Bord received a report on the WorkWell Vanguard pilot programme following a successful grant application.

WorkWell was a joint Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) pilot that sought to provide holistic support to overcome health-related barriers to employment, and a single, joined up pathway to wider support services.

The focus was on early intervention, supporting those at risk of falling out of employment and those who had recently fallen out of work due to health issues, within the first 12 weeks of unemployment.  It provided an opportunity for local systems to support everybody, including disabled people and people with health conditions, to start, stay, succeed in work and also to return to employment.

WorkWell would support the development of integrated health and work services, which would provide person-centred health and work support based on a biopsychosocial model.  Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and local authorities (Las) would play a central role in convening local a partnership to design and deliver the WorkWell Partnership Programme.

The WorkWell vanguard bid was based on supporting circa 1000 Blacburn with Darwen residents over the course of the programme, commencing in October 2024 through to March 2026.

RESOLVED

1.    The successful outcome of the Vanguard application be noted and the acceptance of the funding allocation to Blackburn with Darwen up to the maximum potential of £807,000 be accepted as detailed in the finance section.

2.    That subject to acceptance of grant and confirmation of the grant agreement, a supplementary revenue estimate of £240,000 in 2024/25 and £5667,000 in 2025/26 be agreed (noting that a proportion of the grant funding was payment by results) being the necessary budget provision to deliver the work set out in the report.

3.    That a further report on this matter be submitted to the Executive Board in 12 months’ time detailing progress and, where it was possible to do so, outline how this work might be sustained post March 2026.