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<p /> <p /> <p>Many benefit claimants with mental health problems will be referred
to, or have access to, a range of support including the Work Programme or specialist
disability employment programmes such as Work Choice and Access to Work.</p><p> </p><p>The
Work Programme Prime and specialist providers’ industry-led expert group led action
to build organisational and workforce capability to recognise and address mental health
needs in an employment context.</p><p> </p><p>This expert group designed an employment
adviser toolkit <em>Working for Wellbeing</em> to help Work Programme employment advisers
spot when mental wellbeing support can help a jobseeker achieve their employment goal,
and have worked with providers to share best practice in working with specialist mental
health organisations.</p><p> </p><p>7,000 claimants with mental health or behavioural
disorders listed as their primary health condition have achieved job outcomes through
the Work Programme.</p><p> </p><p>Work Choice is a specialist pan-disability employment
programme that provides tailored support to help disabled people who face the most
complex barriers to employment find and stay in work and ultimately help them progress
into unsupported employment, where it is appropriate for the individual.</p><p> </p><p>Since
the start of the 2011/12 financial year (and up to 31 March 2014), around 21 per cent
of Work Choice customers achieving job outcomes through Work Choice have had a mental
health problem recorded as their primary disability. The trend over these 3 years
shows that the numbers being supported are increasing each year.</p><p> </p><p>The
<em>Access to Work Mental Health Support Service</em> was established in December
2011 and is delivered by Remploy Employment Services.</p><p>It can offer support to
individuals with mental health problems who are absent from work or finding work difficult.
The service supports those experiencing depression, anxiety, stress or other mental
health issues that are affecting their work.</p><p> </p><p>In the last year, 92 per
cent of people who have completed a programme of support with the MHSS are still sustaining
work after 26 weeks. Employer engagement is a key element of the service.</p><p> </p><p>This
year the Government is also taking forward a number of feasibility pilots to explore
how to improve employment and health outcomes for people with common mental health
problems. These are based on the recommendations made by RAND Europe in their report
<em>Psychological Wellbeing and Work: Improving Service Provision and Outcomes</em>,
which was published in January. Early findings will be available next year.</p>
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