Table 2.

Supporting work for people with health conditions (UK)

Type of service	Nature or provision	How to access
UK government services:
Access to work service (www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-work-factsheet/access-to-work-factsheet-for-customers)	Provides grants or sustained funding for practical support to enable people with health conditions or disabilities to get a job, undertake training or an apprenticeship, or sustain a job.	Application is through employer based on the needs of the employee.
Work coaches	Based in local Job Centre Plus settings; these employment support workers can provide support for those out of work to find suitable work.	First point of contact for benefit claimants.
Occupational health services	Larger employers are required to have occupational health provision, but this can be in-house or contracted from providers who are now mostly in the private sector. Not all services are the same.	Employee and employer can request occupational health input where available. Some employers will contract on a ‘once only’ basis for a specific employee.
Occupational therapists	Allied health professionals trained specifically to assess functional capability holistically including paid and unpaid work.	Patchily provided through NHS; may be available through primary care or secondary care services. Often based within one specialty (eg neurology or rheumatology).
Vocational rehabilitation services	Usually staffed by allied health professionals with dedicated skills in supporting return to work after ill health and/or sickness.	Mostly provided commercially and paid for by employer or insurance company where individual or employer has funded cover.
Third sector services: Citizens Advice Macmillan Cancer Support Versus Arthritis (musculoskeletal disorders) MIND (mental health) Etc	Services providing information, support and signposting to enable work for people with specific types of health conditions.	Usually funded through charity and available for free.