The service is open to anyone in East Birmingham and North Solihull who is recently  out of work due to ill health or disability and those currently in work who feel they are at risk of long term sickness absence or unemployment.

To be eligible for WorkWell, individuals must live or have a GP registered in the following wards:

Alum Rock, Bickenhill (part), Bordesley Green, Bordesley & Highgate, Bromford and Hodge Hill, Castle Bromwich, Castle Vale, Chelmsley Wood, Garretts Green, Gravelly Hill, Glebe Farm and Tile Cross Heartlands, Kingshurst & Fordbridge, Nechells, Pype Hayes, Shard End, Sheldon, Small Heath, Smiths Wood, South Yardley, Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East, Tyseley & Hay Mills, Ward End, Yardley East, Yardley West and Stechford.

The service is at present funded for the residents of East Birmingham and North Solihull so at this time is unfortunately not available for residents outside this zone.

We would encourage you to signpost your colleague or employee to the WorkWell service for them to self-refer or seek a referral from their GP. However, with their consent, you are able to complete a referral on behalf of your colleague.

There are leaflets and posters available to download at the bottom of this webpage and you may wish to share a leaflet with your colleague if you think they might benefit from WorkWell and encourage them to self-refer.

A GP can also complete the referral, so your colleague can ask their GP to be referred to WorkWell if they think the service would help them.  

Leaflets can be downloaded below, and if you would like physical copies of leaflets, please contact nhsbsolicb.workwell@nhs.net.

The WorkWell programme offers many benefits for employers including supporting you to reduce staff absence due to sickness, reducing staff turnover and increasing employee satisfaction and performance .

WorkWell provides an opportunity for employers to benefit from guidance offered through the Work and Health Coaches. Work and Health Coaches can offer advice on how to make reasonable adjustments that can allow an employee to remain in work or facilitate their return to work, the Coaches will work with you and support you throughout this process. Adjustments could range from physical workplace adaptations such as a modification to a desk or equipment or changes in job role or hours.

By engaging with the WorkWell service, employers can support the health and wellbeing of their workforce, enhance productivity, and reduce costs associated with long-term sickness absences and staff turnover. Employers that engage with WorkWell also have the opportunity to play an active role in shaping a more supportive approach to employment and health within the local community.

East Birmingham and North Solihull was chosen as one of the 15 vanguard areas across the country to be part of the WorkWell programme - a £64 million, two-year Government pilot to deliver joined-up work and health support. In Birmingham, the WorkWell area spans 25 wards aligned to the  East Birmingham & North Solihull Levelling Up Zone, with £1.7m Government funding provided for the 18 month pilot programme.

We have chosen four community based organisations in East Birmingham and North Solihull as service delivery partners. They are:

Sähëlï Hub:

Sähëlï Hub was founded in 1998 to address stark health inequalities experienced by ethnically diverse women in inner city areas in East & Central Birmingham. Now they work across the whole community, with both men & women from a range of backgrounds. They strive to address long-term disadvantage & improve community wellbeing through innovative, culturally sensitive services that educate, motivate, inspire & empower.

Better Pathways:

Formed in 1963, Better Pathways helps and supports people with mental health challenges, learning difficulties and learning disabilities through broad-based vocational activities within their social enterprises so that they can build the confidence to begin their employment journey.

Colebridge Trust:

​​​​​​​The Colebridge Trust is a registered charity and recognised as the community development trust for North Solihull, within the West Midlands.  They operate in Solihull and the surrounding areas including parts of Birmingham and Warwickshire. Their vision is a cohesive society where people are enabled to achieve their full potential and where barriers to living inclusive, happy and healthy lives are challenged through the provision of creative, innovative and enterprising activities. Each year they directly support hundreds of people through direct intervention work, linking people to local work, volunteering and training opportunities.

Birmingham Disability Resource Centre:​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Established over 30 years ago, Birmingham Disability Resource Centre (DRC) is a registered charity (1034581) and leading Disabled People’s Organisation, run by disabled people, for disabled people that supports over 4,500 disabled people each year to take control of their lives and achieve their full potential in mainstream society. They achieve this through the delivery of a number of services including: employment and training, information advice and guidance, health and well-being activities, social activities, personal and skills development projects and community development activities in East Birmingham. Details of their project and services can be found at: www.disability.co.uk.

As well as the above four organisations from the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector, NHS Birmingham and Solihull, Birmingham City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, West Midlands Combined Authority, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Health and Social Care are all partners in the service.

Referrals should be made via the WorkWell referral page. Any other enquiries can be made by emailing the WorkWell inbox at nhsbsolicb.workwell@nhs.net.