Job support for healthcare users

Funding has been pledged to increase employability support for people living with disabilities and long-term health conditions in Dundee and Fife.

Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn announced over £630,000 for a two-year pilot scheme, which will launch in summer 2018.

The Single Health and Work Gateway will streamline existing services by providing a single point of contact for those at risk of falling out of work or who have recently left work due to ill health.

Mr Hepburn said:

“Every year, thousands of people in Scotland leave their jobs as a result of a health condition or disability. We want to support more people to stay in employment before they reach this point.

“This pilot will mean better integration of healthcare and employability support so that individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions – particularly mental health conditions – will benefit from a service that more closely matches their needs.

“The funding I have announced today will go directly towards supporting our frontline services, allowing our healthcare professionals to improve the quality of early prevention.”

The Single Health and Work Gateway is a £3.5m total investment, being delivered as part of the UK Government’s Work and Health Unit’s Innovation Fund programme.