Annual review 2007/08
Recovery and social inclusion
A better working world
Making a difference
Getting back to work can be crucial in recovering a full and meaningful life for many people who have experienced mental illness. Rethink provides a range of skills and confidence-building services which are tailored to the needs of people with mental illness.
But returning to work is so much easier if your employer is informed about mental illness. That’s why we provide support for employers through our ASTEC training intervention, an evidence-based programme run jointly with the Institute of Psychiatry.
But we are still campaigning at a national level to make sure that Government policy and benefits agencies consider the real needs of people affected by severe mental illness for a living income, regardless of a person’s ability to work.
Making it happen
- Since 2005 Rethink has provided a Condition Management Programme as part of the ‘Pathways to Work’ pilot in Derby with Jobcentre Plus and Central Derby PCT.
- We provided 36 ‘Confidence to Work’ courses yearly to equip people with practical support and tools to manage their mental health needs, make positive changes to overcome barriers, and build their confidence to return to work.
- The ‘Pathways to Work’ programme has been rolled-out across the country. Rethink and our partner Working Links will deliver condition management programmes for people in five Jobcentre Plus districts across four Rethink regions.
Making an impact
- Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, the Pathways to Work Programme includes extra money and practical support for people on incapacity benefits returning to work, including opportunities for training and employment preparation, and support to find and sustain work.
- Our information and recovery-orientated support will help people understand and manage their mental health needs, and reduce unnecessary fears about health and work.
Moving forward
- We’ll get involved with more return to work initiatives, including the ‘Flexible New Deal’ programme for job seekers, which is being rolled-out across the country from next year.
- We’ll get involved with employment support for people who are further from the labour market. In fact we’ve recently been commissioned by South West Essex PCT to implement the Individual Placement and Support model by attaching Rethink workers to Community Health Teams.
- Our partner organisation, Working Links, will collect evidence of how effective these programmes are in terms of helping people find sustained employment.
Moving you forward
If you want to know about our Pathways to Work Programmes please email james.gorman@rethink.org.
