Health Affecting Work
If your physical health, mental health or wellbeing is making it harder to find work or return to work, support is available.
Local services can help you build confidence, improve your health and overcome barriers that may affect your working life.
Whether you are looking for work, returning after a break or need support to keep your current job, you can access practical employment support, personalised health coaching and guidance to help you take positive steps towards your goals.
NHS WorkWell Sunderland
Health-related barriers can make finding and keeping a job more difficult. NHS WorkWell Sunderland offer personalised health and wellbeing coaching alongside access to local support services to help improve your wellbeing, increase your confidence, and support your journey into employment. Find out more
Lift Off!
Lift Off! is a tailored programme that helps people in Sunderland to get ready to go back to work, start training, or do volunteering. Lift Off! is run by Sunderland GP Alliance and Recovery Connections. It’s funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority. These groups bring together the strengths of health and community organisations to give people the help they need with both health and work. Find out more
Access to Work
Access to Work is a Government scheme that can provide practical and financial support for people with a disability, mental health condition or long-term health condition. The support can help you start a new job, stay in work, or move into self-employment. The scheme can fund specialist equipment, workplace adjustments, travel support, communication support and other tailored help to remove barriers at work. Access to Work is available alongside other employment support and does not affect most benefits. Find out more
Social Prescribing
Social Prescribing provides personalised one-to-one support to help people improve their health and wellbeing by connecting them with services and activities in their community. A Social Prescribing Link Worker will take time to understand what matters to you and help you access the right support. This may include wellbeing groups, money advice, housing support, volunteering opportunities, befriending services, physical activity programmes and other local services. Find out more
Connect to Work
Are you already in work but need some extra support? Connect to Work provides personalised support for people who are already employed but need help to overcome challenges at work. If you have a disability, mental health condition, long-term health condition or other barriers affecting your job, a dedicated Employment Specialist can work with you and your employer to identify the right support. This may include workplace adjustments, wellbeing support, skills development and practical solutions to help you succeed in work. Find out more
Other employment-related pages on Links for Life:
Find WorkLearn New SkillsMoney and BenefitsSupport for Young People Start or Grow a Business