A NEW pilot scheme to help people across Dudley with low level mental illnesses or long-term physical health conditions is being introduced.

Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust is launching the ‘Thrive into Work programme’ – an employment support service that aims to help people find and stay in work.

In 2014, 20.5 per cent of Dudley residents experienced long-term illness or disability that limited them daily, and for these residents, the service can offer support on a one-to-one basis to meet individual needs around employment support, benefit advice and employment retention.

Piloting the new service will see participants randomly organised into one of two trial groups – one will receive individual placement and support and the other will receive standard information and signposting that is currently in place.

Following completion of the pilot a review will be done to evaluate the success of the new employment support service.

Thrive into Work is a collaboration between different parts of the health service, local and national government, including the West Midlands Combined Authority, NHS England, the Department of Work and Pensions, and the Department of Health.

George Farmer, trust manager, said: “This is a great opportunity for us to be able to work closely with those who are struggling with health issues that are holding them back from gaining substantive employment.

“Dudley’s rate of unemployment is higher than the national average and these vulnerable people within society need our focus to help them make progress.

“The service will see dedicated employment staff working in partnership with NHS clinicians to develop a greater focus on employment to tackle health outcomes and promote wellbeing.”

For more information, or to sign up to the trial, visit www.thriveintowork.org.uk or call 01384 324645.