Support for returning to work

Your health matters just as much as the care you give to others. Working in health and care can be both rewarding and challenging, and it’s natural to sometimes put your own wellbeing second. But support is here for you. Whether it’s practical tools, resources, or specialist guidance, you can access help that empowers you to look after your health with confidence. Taking time for your wellbeing means you’ll feel stronger, more supported, and better able to thrive both in and outside of work.

The Thrive at Work hub is designed to support and empower health and care employees and managers in Leeds to thrive in their roles while managing their own health. The Thrive at Work hub provides tailored and bespoke support to help individuals to remain healthy at work, return to work after a period of sickness with confidence, or explore new opportunities that align with their well-being and overall goals.

We recommend you have a look on their page for more information about what the Thrive at Work hub offers.

If you want to find out more information about what support to you, have a look at the following:

• Department of Work and Pensions: Universal credit, other benefits, pension, or seeking guidance on job support. Can be accessed through JobCentre Plus.
• ACAS: ACAS gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. We also offer training and help to resolve disputes
• Access to Work: Access to Work can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability. The support you get will depend on your needs. Through Access to Work, you can apply for: a grant to help pay for practical support with your work; support with managing your mental health at work; money to pay for communication support at job interviews.
• Able Futures Mental Health Support: Able Futures can give you nine months’ advice and guidance from a mental health specialist to help you manage your mental health at work so you can enjoy more good days.
• Maximus Mental Health Support provides expert, tailored support to help people enter sustainable employment, improve their health outcomes and prioritise their mental wellbeing.
• Citizens Advice: A charity that provides free advice and information on topics such as benefits, work and more.
• Trade unions: Trade union congress brings together unions to take a unified approach to creating positive change across workplaces.
• Stroke Association: Information and support for anyone affected by stroke, including family, friends and carers.
• Occupational Health Provider (for people working in the NHS): Occupational health is a specialist branch of medicine focusing on the health of staff in the workplace.
• Local Authority (Leeds): Employment and Skills Leeds is part of Leeds City Council. We work with a range of partners to support people to find work, training (including apprenticeships) and education opportunities.
• Skills House (Bradford): Collaboration of organisations across the Bradford District that work with people of all ages, supporting them into work and training
• Wakefield Council: Step-Up is the Council’s flagship employment and skills service available to all residents and businesses FREE of cost. Our specialist team provides tailored one-to-one employment, skills and career coaching as well as a job-matching service and a minimum of six months in-work support. We also help businesses grow, develop, recruit and train staff.