WorkWAYS - Promoting mental health through learning and work

WorkWAYS provides an individually-focused and very flexible service to help people in Exeter find or maintain learning and work. Operated by Devon Partnership NHS Trust, the service aims to enable people to take their next best step in their journey through learning and work. Work is conceptualised in the broadest sense, incorporating more than paid employment - if somebody wants to do voluntary work, WorkWAYS will help them - and there is a strong focus on learning.

WorkWAYS doesn't provide learning and work activities itself, but works closely with those who do. This means having strong working links with more than 50 local learning and workrelated services including Jobcentre Plus, Connexions, training providers, further and higher education colleges, private employment and training agencies and the voluntary sector. It is also increasingly working with employers on recruitment, redeployment and job retention issues, and has published a free booklet on mental health in the workplace. This has gone to over 550 local employers, employment agencies and employer forums throughout the city.

WorkWAYS occupies a shop-fronted building in the middle of Exeter, which provides a welcoming, comfortable and businesslike environment. There is no referral system as such. Accessing information, advice and support by appointment is very easily arranged. The only criteria are that clients live in Exeter, and have discussed their mental health with their GP.

Since it was established in late 2001, WorKWAYS has assisted nearly 250 people to make occupational decisions, find employment, commence training and education courses, start voluntary work or remain in their current job. WorkWAYS was short-listed for the NIMHE Positive Practice Awards in the category for Improving Access and Choice, having demonstrated the promotion of access to services and of choice, through active engagement of statutory and non-statutory organisations. Working with other mental health organizations, WorkWAYS is also involved in national initiatives connected with job retention, and in a public-private partnership, where a business specialising in psychosocial risk management, stress awareness and employee support, is working with NHS and local authorities to enable people to retain their employment.

The WorkWAYS website provides a really excellent and comprehensive signposting system to local resources, with links to more than 70 local learning and work organisations, information on benefits and government programmes, information for employers, and some self-assessment modules. It illustrates one very useful way in which information gathered through local service reviews can be exploited to provide a navigational aid for individuals seeking work or training.

For more information contact:

WorkWAYS

King Street Business Centre, 7-9 King Street,

Exeter EXl IBQ

Tel/fax: 01392 208833

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.workways.org.uk

Copyright Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Ltd. Nov 2003
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