Supporting patients with employment: Trailblazers aka Life Reworked
SWL Training Hub are working with South London Partnership on a new initiative to get patients into employment.
'Get Britain Working'
There are 2.8m people out of work due to long term illness and increasing youth unemployment. The government is investing £30m to mobilise trailblazers in London, to tackle these challenges and ‘Get Britain Working’.
We recognise that time and capacity are constant pressures across primary care. This pathway is designed with that in mind: to ease workload now, and to deliver long-term benefits for our patients by addressing health and work together.
As practice and PCN leads, you hold real influence in shaping how your teams work. We’d like to take this opportunity to ensure you are fully aware of the benefits and to encourage you to get your staff signed up for training.
Together, we can embed this approach so that our patients, our workforce, and our communities all feel the impact.
How it Works
Below the process for generating referrals from adverts, health partners and voluntary groups is outlined.
When should I use it?
Fit Notes
If you’re issuing a fit note and your patient ( aged 16+) has been off work for more than 2 weeks , consider whether a referral via your link worker or self-referral route might help.
At risk or long-term health conditions
Particularly valuable for patients with long-term health conditions, mental health concerns, or those at risk of losing employment.
Benefits for Practices
How does the Digital Referral to DWP via SLP help me as a practice?
Saves Clinician Time
Instead of long conversations about employment and benefits, you can signpost patients directly to tailored DWP support.
Clear Pathway
Referrals go straight through Social Prescribing Link Workers or other team members who can coordinate with DWP, reducing back-and-forth.
Better Continuity and Use of ARRS Roles
Social Prescribing Link Workers keep you updated, so you know your patient is getting wraparound support while you focus on their health needs.
Get Involved
We will be running a series of interactive learning workshops designed for anyone in your practice who has conversations with patients about work, health, and wellbeing. Our team will come out to you - contact us directly at zehra.safdar@nhs.net
What will the workshops cover?
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Digital referral process: practical guidance on how to use the new system step-by-step
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Coaching and behaviour change: short, skills-based sessions to build confidence in having effective conversations with patients about work and health
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Real-world application: case examples and tips on embedding this into day-to-day practice
Who should attend?
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Social Prescribing Link Workers
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Health and Wellbeing Coaches
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Care Coordinators and other non-clinical staff
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Any clinical staff interested in supporting patients with work and health conversations
Why GP?
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Save GP and practice time by making the most of the referral pathway
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Feel confident in supporting patients with often complex conversations
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Improve patient outcomes by linking health and work support seamlessly
Get in Touch
To find out more and get involved with the Trailblazers programme, please click the button or email: zehra.safdar@nhs.net