1. Job Retention and Mental Health in the Workplace Training Welcome!

2. Managing Health & Social Risk in the Workplace
Roger Butterworth
Director of NHS Liason
Work Life Partnerships Ltd.

3. Why Job Retention?

4. Why is prevention & retention important? The economic argument
Mental health disorders account for 23% of those on incapacity benefit in England
Mental health & stress problems are now the leading cause of absence from work
The annual cost of lost employment in England is £19.4 billion
Cost borne by employers in sick leave, lost production, recruitment & retraining, compensation, litigation & insurance, early retirement.

5. Australian Study 1993 for every dollar spent on rehabilitation, 4 dollars saved

6. Response from questionnaire relating to Job Retention
In our Trust 78% lost their jobs as a result of their mental health difficulties, and through lack of advocacy or effective case management
Only 11% had found our Occupational Therapy service helpful
Only 7% had found the Disability Employment Advisors helpful

7. Dr Chris Manning – PRIMHE/ Depression Alliance
There is huge concern about this group in primary care
GP’s often do not have the time, knowledge or skill to deal effectively with work absence or sickness due to mental ill health
Signing off is seen as protective, but is often at the expense of individual’s longer term health
These clients often pick up labels such as fat-filers, heart sinkers, psychosomatics

8. GP’s – the facts
It is estimated that around 40% of all GP consultations include a mental health problem
Around 90% of mental healthcare is provided by Primary Care
30-50% of those with SEMI, who engage with statutory services, use only Primary Care Services

9. The 3 tiers of prevention, retention and rehabilitation
Primary Prevention: health promotion, reducing stress, prevention of illness and injury wherever possible
Secondary Prevention: Job Retention, early intervention, managing sickness & absence policies
Tertiary Prevention: Vocational Rehabilitation

10. As Vocational Rehabilitation Services spread in Mental Health, there will be more need for job retention to keep these individuals in jobs when they secure them

11. The sick absence trajectory
The chances of those individuals signed off sick returning to work after a period of 6 months is only 50%
After 1 year it is 25%
After 2 years it is practically nil – 5%

12. Outcomes relating to Job Retention – before the pilot
The successful creation of a job retention service, helping over 35 people to remain in their jobs, and 15 to find other career paths
Development of ‘key stages’ in job retention guidelines
Training and education to OT’s and other health professionals in Trust

13. The Avon Job Retention Pilot June 2002-3
Commissioned by NHS Executive
Funded by DWP, DoH and AWMHPT
Qualitative Evaluation by IAHSP, King’s College, London
Our aim was to provide a ‘one stop resource’ for employers – case management for employees and all the interventions that are vital in creating healthy work environments

14. Private Initiatives Occupational Health, managing absence
Stress Policies & Audits
Workplace Counselling
Employee Assistance Programmes
Well- being Programmes
Helplines
Mediation & Conflict Resolution

15. Public Initiatives Health Promotion Job Retention
Specialist Mental Health Services

16. Key Points from the evaluation
What a service user said:
“ I don’t know what I’d have done without their support. It meant so much to have someone on my side, who could understand what I’d been through, and speak for me when I wasn’t well enough to deal with anything. I think I have them to thank for still being in my job. I’d have given up, I’m sure of that.”

17. Key Points… What an employer said
“ We knew she was involved we knew she had a nurse, but they had never included us in things. It was so much easier when (the JRT) came on board. They made some useful suggestions on how to proceed, and the support they gave her and us made all the difference really.We’d have had to let her go, as things couldn’t carry on as they were”.

18. Key points… What GP’s said
“It saves my time, and I know they will be able to help them, I know they will support my patient in sorting it out.”
“They negotiate with work and stop the patient being frightened.They negotiate with the employer and know the patient’s rights. They also give them the confidence to go back. To have somebody they trust to do that, I just don’t have the time.”
“I honestly think it’s great. I really like having a service that recognises there’s an issue I can’t deal with as well as I’d like to.”

19. Ongoing support at work
“It’s just knowing that he is there. You know six months down the line, if I feel I can’t keep it together, I’ll ring him up.It’s nice to have someone like that. It’s the ongoing support in case any problems come up that I can’t deal with.”
“My case manager has been helpful in ironing out the problems I’ve had since returning to work, and there are so many still going on. It takes a lot of the pressure off, and I don’t feel so much on my own anymore.”

20. Saving the job, saving the marriage
69% of job retention cases are in ‘permanent’ relationships
80% unemployed clients are single
“ My husband thought I should let the situation go and not complain… This caused problems between us. Financial stress! My case manager briefed him on my state of mind, this made a big difference. So then I had the support of my husband as well.”

21. Life after the pilot
Rolling out a nationally co-ordinated Job Retention Service
Giving an effective response to the SEU Report
Answering the need for training with Diploma and Certificate in Case Management
Developing Public/Private Partnership Initiatives with joint investment

22. Key Elements
Full range of professional services- qualified and accredited
Standards across the professional boundaries, in addition to their own
Training to manage cases proactively
“ I could not have mustered all the services I needed – thank-you.”

23. Summary The Strategy for Mental Health & Work is clear
Models tested in the UK are robust and confirmed by overseas experience
Training & Development is urgent – we must have capacity – it is ready to go
Funding currently being reviewed
We now need ‘planes not pilots’!!