The Work Programme: Providers and contracting arrangements

Written evidence submitted by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine

This is an important initiative and it is vital that it is underpinned by best practice. There is a specialty focused on fitness for work but too few accredited specialists to ensure the best outcome. First, the programme should be strongly led and delivered by clinicians with higher specialist training. Appropriate training should be provided to the large numbers of health professionals who will have to make the programme work. Second, it may be appropriate to carry out the work in a trial area to identify best practice that can then be applied nationwide.

In the past, the Condition Management Programme (CMP) has been successful in helping former benefit recipients to manage their health conditions in the transition stages of returning to the labour market. Future health service commissioning arrangements need to be structured so that the lessons learned from CMP are applied. GPs should use their commissioning skills to procure cost-effective occupational health support to ex-claimants.

November 2010