Lewisham Council is set to launch a new health and employment programme, named WorkWell, aimed at supporting residents with health-related barriers to finding or retaining work. The initiative, which will bring over £1.2 million into the borough over three years, is expected to assist more than 1,000 residents.
The programme recognises the strong link between health and employment, providing timely support to prevent temporary health challenges from becoming long-term obstacles to economic participation. The pilot areas for WorkWell found that almost half identified mental health as their main barrier to work
.
WorkWell builds on the success of the council's existing Lewisham Works service, which has been delivering employment support for over a year. The success of the programme will be measured by participant satisfaction, with the South East London standard aiming for 70% of participants to report that they are satisfied or very satisfied
. Other measures include participation levels
and whether support is helping people to stay in work and return to work more quickly when illness affects them, and access support when they need it most
.
Councillor Shireen Asaw, Cabinet Member for Business, Jobs and Skills, highlighted the programme's focus on early intervention and its alignment with the administration's commitment to an economy of care
and fostering happier, healthier communities.
She emphasised that good employment is a positive health outcome that contributes to independence, reduces inequality, and strengthens communities.
The WorkWell model in Lewisham will involve dedicated health and work coaches embedded within local health settings and the Lewisham Works team. These coaches will collaborate with primary care networks, GPs, and other health professionals to identify residents needing support and connect them with appropriate services. Residents will be able to access the programme through multiple pathways such as health systems, job centre plus, employers and self referrals
. Specifically, referrals can come from GPs and primary care teams, employers, Jobcentre Plus, council and community services, alongside self-referral
.
The service will initially launch at the Waldron Health Centre and Downham Leisure Centre, with plans to expand across all four neighbourhoods in Lewisham. The timeline for this expansion beyond the initial launch is not specified.
Residents will receive practical support tailored to their individual circumstances, which may include occupational health support, advice on reasonable adjustments, referrals to Connect to Work, or assistance in accessing specialist services. The programme is funded through a Section 256 agreement with NHS South East London Integrated Care Board (SEL ICB), which will transfer grant funding to the Council. The total indicative funding envelope for Lewisham over three years is £1,234,268.00, with £193,173 confirmed for the first year (2026/27) and indicative allocations for the subsequent two years, subject to national funding decisions and programme delivery.
Councillor Asaw also reassured that the service is non-mandatory and will not impose sanctions on participants if they continue to struggle to return to work, ensuring a supportive environment for all residents.
