Helping People Who Are Experiencing Mental Health Challenges To Get Back To Work

As part of the Working Well programme, Groundwork’s Individual Placement Support (IPS) Employment Specialists have been providing support to people who have disabilities or experiencing mental health challenges, helping them secure and retain rewarding work.

Since starting the programme in October 2023, Groundwork’s team of seven Employment Coaches have supported over 210 participants from Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside to stay in work or find sustainable employment.

Each person supported is experiencing their own unique situation and challenge, and therefore calls for a personalised approach such as IPS. Since delivering the programme we’ve helped people with a range of challenges including:

  • Individuals who have felt like their employer does not understand their health condition and is unwilling to make changes to working practice
  • Individuals who have felt that their disability has been the reason for them being unsuccessful when interviewing for roles
Woman smiling by window

Sam’s story

For almost 11 years, Sam had been out of work. She struggled to find work flexible enough where should could care for her neurodiverse son, and manage her own disability and mental health problems.

Thanks to support from Groundwork her confidence grew and she managed to get back into work and is now thriving in an enjoyable and fulfilling career.

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Feedback

I have a patient who didn’t think she would return to work. Thanks to your support, her employer is now having a three way meeting with us soon and her phased start begins not long after. The manager has started being really positive with her now she’s engaging with our support.

I can’t imagine how much I have progressed with my job searching since I started working with Lauren from Groundwork, she is very flexible should I need to re arrange my appointments or venue for any reason.

Can I just say to you thank you for your support over the past few weeks. Some weeks have been challenging and stressful for myself but with your help I have got through them. You really have pulled me through some difficult times, and I would like to say a big thank you for this.

Funders & Partners

This programme was made possible thanks to funding from the GMCA

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