DWP Work Psychology Service. Jehnna Stratford Work Psychologist DWP Work Psychology Services Durham & Tees Valley

DWP Work Psychology Service

Jehnna Stratford

Work Psychologist

Improving Health Through Work

• The Government instigated review ‘Working for a Healthier Tomorrow’ - Dame Carol Black, 2006

 Around 1.96 million people are workless and receiving benefits because of long term health conditions or disabilities

 Families without a working member are more likely to suffer persistent low income and poverty

 Persistent low parental income is not only associated with children living in poverty but also with poorer health outcomes

 The link between health and wealth can run in both directions. Having a higher income is likely to improve a person’s health status whilst being in good health increases a person’s earning potential.

 When a parent or carer is unable to work due to ill health or disability the household’s income usually declines. Around a quarter of children in poverty live in a household with a disabled adult and the risk of poverty for this group is 31%

Is Work Good For Your Health and

Wellbeing?



Unemployment is generally found to be harmful to health including;

 Higher Mortality

 Poorer general health and long standing illness

 Poorer mental health and psychological distress

 Higher medical consultation and hospital rates



When health permits, sick/ disabled people should stay in or aim for work

because;

 It can be therapeutic

 Helps promote recovery and rehab

 Leads to better health outcomes

 Reduces the risk of long term incapacity

 Reduces poverty

Is Work Good For Your Health and

Wellbeing?

 Understanding and addressing common health problems requires a bio-psycho-social approach. This takes account of the person, their health problem and their work

environment.

 One study focused on the views of GP’s working with those on ‘sick leave’. It was found that work could be of therapeutic benefit to patients due to the contribution to self esteem and self respect.

 Being off work was thought to impact negatively on mental health, partly explained through lack of interaction and routine.

 Also thought that having too much time on their hands lead people to dwell on things, becoming more anxious and depressed (Mowlam and Lewis, 2005)

NE Region Work Psychology

Services

•

Currently 3 Work Psychologists

based throughout NTW and

DTVs districts

•

We provide a number of services

involving the application of

Occupational Psychology to help

individuals with health conditions

or disabilities find or retain

employment

•

Through the application of

psychological interventions we

enhance employment

opportunities, helping people get

a job and keep it.

NE Region Work Psychology Service

Work

Psychology

Services

Master

classes,

coaching &

mentoring

Case

conferencing

Consultancy

service

Project

work

Employment Assessment

•

Helps individuals with a disability or health condition,

which is impacting on their ability, to find or keep a

job.

•

This may include; head injury, mental health

problems, multiple disabilities, general learning

difficulties, and specific learning difficulties.

•

It is a voluntary process – the individual must

want

to

take part, and be interested in gaining employment.

Employment Assessment

•

Helps individuals to identify their skills, abilities,

strengths, and areas for development

•

Helps individuals identify suitable work goals based

on their skills and strengths

•

Helps identify next steps, work solutions, and support

needs, to enable an individual to progress towards

work or work-related training.

Employment Assessment

Employment

Assessment

Occupational

testing

Specialist

cognitive

assessment

Work/career

advice

Action planning

Advice on work

solutions, and

adaptations

In-depth interview

Employment-Related Interventions

•

Brief (1-2 hours) one to one session(s) to help

a customer address a specific work related

issue for example; lack of confidence, anxiety

about travel or attending an interview, low

mood impacting on job searching abilities etc.

•

Can also use the 3-way interview with the

customer, adviser and Work Psychologist to

help identify the next steps for the customer

Good News Story 1

Background, Conditions and Impact

• Claimant had learning disability, low mood and alcohol misuse

• Literacy, numeracy, memory, communication, motivation and confidence issues

• Claiming JSA for 5 years and casual work as an event steward

• Previously been sent to mandatory provision for basic skills and employability techniques which hadn’t been successful

Assessment

• Work focused interview identified new job goals

• Cognitive assessment identified specific strengths and interests plus areas of difficulty – short term memory, working at speed and literacy. Appropriate level of in work support was defined.

Outcomes

• Advocacy support to re-work CV, prepare for interviews and find suitable job vacancies

• Ref to specialist provision for in work support – this included 1-2-1 induction, additional time and support with paperwork and memory aides.

Good News Story 2

Background, Conditions and Impact

• Customer was in their early 40’s had been on IB and then ESA for approx. 15 years

• No qualifications

• Long standing depression, anxiety and ADHD

• Only brief periods of work history. Mainstream provision hadn’t helped in the past.

Assessment

• Work focussed interview and psychometric testing highlighted skills, abilities and interests and identified the preference would be to work self employed

Outcomes

• Customer decided to start his own livery business – advantageous as he could set his own working pattern in accordance to his health.

• Recommended specialist provision for self employment advice with the Pinetree Trust to ensure knowledge about the business was sufficient e.g. running costs, marketing, client base, tax returns etc.

• Supported from the Job Centre with regards to ensuring other benefits were in place – such as In Work Credit, DLA if necessary.

QUESTIONS?

Jehnna Stratford

DWP

Durham JCP (Elvet House)

Tel; 0191 3821009/ 07909 687785

Email;

jehnna.stratford@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

References

• Burgess, S., Propper, C and Rigg, J (2004) The impact of low income on Child Health: Evidence from a Birth Cohort Study, CMPO Working Paper Study, No. 04/098.

• The Health of Children and Young People, The Office for National Statistics

• Bell, Matthew, Y., Kossykh, M. Ridge and N. Wooley, An empirical analyses of the effect of health and economic growth in the UK, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Research Report (2008)