Last week in the Commons, I asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, about expanding the WorkWell programme.

WorkWell is a new work and health support service to facilitate people with health conditions back to work. The programme provides tailored support for people in our local area, so they can stay and progress in work.

The WorkWell service provides a single, joined-up assessment and gateway into employment support and health services locally, to aid people to manage their conditions and to identify workplace adjustments or support that would enable them to stay in work or return to work sooner.

Participants do not need to be claiming any government benefits and will receive personalised support from a Work and Health Coach to understand their current health and social barriers to work and draw up a plan to help them overcome them.

WorkWell is for anyone with a health condition or disability, including mental health conditions, who wants to work. It is a voluntary service, so people are able to self-refer, or can also be referred to WorkWell through their GP, employer or the community sector.

These professionals provide advice on workplace adjustments, such as flexible working or adaptive technology, facilitate conversations with employers on health needs, and provide access to local services such as physiotherapy, employment advice and counselling.

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is one of just fifteen areas of the UK where WorkWell is being piloted and in the Commons I was able to reiterate my view of how crucial it is that, at the end of our £2-million pilot, the programme should be rolled out with longer term funding.

This scheme is a part of the government’s ‘Back to Work’ plan, where we really focus on ensuring that the barriers on the path to work are removed and people can get the physical, mental and financial benefits of returning to or remaining in the world of work.

The overarching objective of the Back to Work plan is to ensure that people of working age can access the skills training and support they need to get back into employment. Because of the dire financial inheritance from the Conservatives, the Labour government will be investing in people so we can help get as many folk as possible back into work and reduce the huge Welfare bill that means we have less money to invest in our schools and hospitals.

We know that we have a significant economic inactivity problem in Cornwall, which reached 22 per cent of the working age population in 2023, under the previous Conservative government. This placed Cornwall at a higher level of economic inactivity than other parts of South West.

My hope is that the WorkWell service may be expanded in the future, so that it is able to provide the valuable support services, but to a larger number of people – so that more people who are facing the barrier of a long term illness or disability may be able to get back to work if they are able, and ensure that the levels of economic inactivity in Cornwall reduce.