Dame Carol Black Visits Greater Manchester ‘Fit For Work’ Scheme

Dame Carol Black (National Director of Work and Health) today visited an initiative that supports people who are in the early stages of sickness to return to work and stay in employment across Greater Manchester.

Led by NHS North West and delivered by Pathways Community Interest Company, the service is one of eleven such projects nationwide and is open to employed residents in all ten Greater Manchester boroughs.

The Government funded Fit for Work Service uses specialist advisors to help people to stay in employment, working alongside GPs and medical specialists to offer practical advice on non-clinical matters that can affect an individual’s health – such as debt and relationship advice, childcare information as well as signposting to other specialist support.

To date the Greater Manchester Fit For Work Service has had in excess of 600 referrals from people who have either contacted the service directly, or been referred to it by their GP, health professional or employer.

Dame Carol Black will meet service users, their employers, local GPs - as well as Pathways Community Interest Company staff who are delivering the service – to find out more about how the Fit For Work Service is help local people stay in work..delivering the service , in addition to clients and employers who are receiving support to retain themselves or employees into employment.

Yvonne Clarke, Co-Managing Director of Pathways Community Interest Company said "Work is generally good for our health. Around 8000 people a year across Greater Manchester move straight from work and onto sickness benefits as a result of a health condition. If people were supported earlier, then many would retain their jobs. In these challenging financial times, retaining your employment can be crucial. We help people who have developed a physical or mental health conditions to stay in work or return more quickly and we recognise that returning to work is part of the recovery process”

If you feel that the service can support you, you can access it by visiting your GP, therapist, or you can contact Pathways CIC directly via www.pathwayscic.co.uk

Contact Information

Amie Wright

Communications Officer

Pathways CIC

Contact via E-mail