Practical health and work support across Kent and Medway.
WorkWell is a free NHS service offering practical, one-to-one support.
Our coaches help people take positive steps towards staying in work, returning after sickness absence or moving closer to employment.
WorkWell will launch across Kent and Medway in November 2026.
Information about eligibility and how to access the service will be published before launch.
- Participation is voluntary and won't impact benefit entitlements.
- WorkWell is a confidential service. We will not share information with an employer without the person’s consent.
What makes WorkWell different
Health conditions can affect people’s confidence, wellbeing and ability to work.
A WorkWell coach listens to what matters to each person. They provide practical support based on individual circumstances, needs and goals.
WorkWell does not promise to resolve a health condition or every challenge someone may be facing. Instead, coaches help people understand their options, identify practical steps and access relevant support.
The service can help people who are:
- finding it difficult to stay in work because of their health
- returning to work after sickness absence
- recently out of work because of a health condition
- moving closer to employment while managing their health
- whose anxiety is affecting their confidence at work
- whose back pain or other musculoskeletal (MSK) condition is making work more difficult
What support will coaches offer?
A WorkWell coach can help someone:
- identify the health-related challenges affecting their work
- consider their strengths, needs and priorities
- set realistic work and wellbeing goals
- build confidence
- explore options for staying in or returning to work
- prepare for conversations about workplace support
- understand possible workplace adjustments
- access relevant health, wellbeing, employment and community services
- create a personalised plan for their next steps.
Support usually takes place over eight to 10 weeks. Everyone’s circumstances are different. Progress may continue after WorkWell support has ended, particularly where another organisation or health service is involved.
Support for long-term health conditions and disabilities
WorkWell can support people living with long-term health conditions, disabilities, chronic pain or mental health concerns. We understand that many conditions are ongoing and cannot be resolved through a short programme. A coach can help someone consider how their condition affects work, explore practical options and identify other support that may be helpful. WorkWell does not replace clinical care, specialist employment provision or occupational health support.
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Coaches can help people:
- understand the difficulties they are experiencing at work
- identify practical ways to manage health-related challenges
- explore workplace adjustments
- prepare to discuss their needs with an employer
- understand workplace rights and responsibilities
- develop a plan to remain in work.
Coaches can help people:
- rebuild confidence after sickness absence
- consider what a manageable return could look like
- prepare for a return-to-work conversation
- explore workplace adjustments
- create a personalised return-to-work plan
- identify health, wellbeing and community services.
Coaches can help people:
- identify their strengths and work-related goals
- build confidence
- consider education, training or volunteering
- prepare a CV
- search and apply for suitable roles
- prepare for interviews
- explore support for managing a health condition at work.
Health and employment can be affected by several parts of a person’s life.
Where appropriate, coaches can help people find support with:
- physical and mental wellbeing
- housing
- money and debt
- physical activity
- education, training and volunteering
- local community services
- specialist employment support.
Helping people find the right support
WorkWell provides lower-intensity, early support. Some people may need a different or more specialist service. If WorkWell is not the right service, we will explain this clearly and help the person understand other options. Other support may include:
- Connect for Work
- The Kent and Medway IPS Service and East Kent IPS Employment Service empower individuals with mental health needs to secure paid employment.
- The Supported Employment Service supports individuals across Kent and Medway who face challenges in finding work - including those with disabilities, health conditions, disadvantages, or special educational needs.
- Live Well Kent and Medway offers free, one-to-one employment support for people experiencing mental health or wellbeing needs. This service is available in in west Kent, Medway and Swale.
- Access to Work can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability.
- Occupational health support
- Other local employment, wellbeing or community services.
Access to another service may depend on its eligibility criteria, referral process and waiting times.
The wider benefits of good work
Good work means employment that is safe, supportive and appropriate for the individual.
For many people, good work can support:
- social connection
- confidence and self-esteem
- independence
- a sense of purpose and routine
- financial wellbeing.
WorkWell supports people to consider the work and wellbeing goals that matter to them.
Support for employers
WorkWell can support businesses of all sizes, including small employers without dedicated human resources or occupational health teams. With an employee’s consent, a coach may help them prepare for a conversation with their employer or explore possible workplace adjustments.
WorkWell can also help employers understand the service and share information with eligible employees. Employers will not receive information about an employee’s health or personal circumstances without that person’s consent.
Who can use WorkWell?
Someone may be eligible if they are:
- aged 16 or more
- entitled to work in the UK
- living in Kent or Medway, or registered with a Kent or Medway GP
- in work and experiencing a health-related challenge
- absent from work because of ill health
- recently out of work because of a health condition
- moving closer to employment while managing their health.
Full eligibility and referral information will be published before the service launches.
How WorkWell works
The person’s journey may include:
- an initial conversation about their circumstances
- agreement about whether WorkWell is suitable
- a personalised support plan
- one-to-one coaching
- practical help based on their goals
- support to access other services where appropriate
- planning for their next steps.
The person remains involved in decisions throughout their support.
Become a WorkWell Coach
We will soon be recruiting WorkWell coaches to join our new service across Kent and Medway. Coaches will help people identify practical solutions, improve confidence, develop personalised plans and achieve their work goals through supportive coaching conversations. Available vacancies will be published soon. Please keep an eye on this page for more details.
You can find a list of frequently asked questions below:
Before you get started
No. WorkWell is expected to launch across Kent and Medway in November 2026.
You may be eligible if you are:
- aged 16 or over
- entitled to work in the UK
- living in Kent or Medway, or registered with a Kent or Medway GP
- in work and struggling because of a health condition or disability
- off work or recently absent because of ill health.
If someone has been out of work for longer than 12 months, or needs more specialist or intensive support, there are other services available that may be better suited to their needs, including:
- Connect for Work supports people who have been out of work for longer than a year.
- The Kent and Medway IPS Service and East Kent IPS Employment Service empower individuals with mental health needs to secure paid employment.
- The Supported Employment Service supports individuals across Kent and Medway who face challenges in finding work - including those with disabilities, health conditions, disadvantages, or special educational needs.
- Live Well Kent and Medway offers free, one-to-one employment support for people experiencing mental health or wellbeing needs. This service is available in in west Kent, Medway and Swale.
- Access to Work can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability.
- The Kent and Medway Growth Hub: Practical support to help employers recruit from a wider talent pool, support staff when challenges come up, and create a workplace where people can do their best work.
WorkWell is funded by the UK Government, which means the support is completely free.
No. Taking part is voluntary and support does not affect benefit entitlement. Any information shared with the Department for Work and Pensions is used for programme evaluation purposes only.
Privacy and confidentiality
Yes. WorkWell is a confidential service. We will not share information with an employer without the person’s consent.
Only if the person agrees. Contact with an employer must form part of the person’s agreed support plan. We will not share personal or health information with your employer without your consent. You will always be involved in decisions about information sharing.
About the support
WorkWell coaches provide practical, one-to-one support tailored to your circumstances and goals.
This may include:
- confidence building
- workplace adjustment advice
- return-to-work planning
- wellbeing support
- access to community services
- employment-related support.
Yes, where WorkWell is appropriate for their needs.
Coaches can help people explore practical work-related options and identify further support. People needing more intensive or specialist help may be supported to find a more suitable service.
No. WorkWell is not a clinical treatment service. Coaches offer practical health and employment support. Clinical care remains with the person’s existing health professionals and services.
No. WorkWell cannot guarantee a particular outcome. Coaches help people identify realistic goals and take practical steps based on their circumstances.
Other services and referrals
WorkWell aims to make accessing support as straightforward as possible. Some people may benefit from more specialist or intensive support. This could include employment support, occupational health, physiotherapy, mental health services or other local services.
If another service would better meet your needs, your coach will explain the options and help you understand your next steps. Access to other services may depend on eligibility criteria, referral arrangements and waiting times.
WorkWell aims to make accessing support as straightforward as possible. Some people may benefit from more specialist or intensive support. This could include employment support, occupational health, physiotherapy, mental health services or other local services.
If another service would better meet your needs, your coach will explain the options and help you understand your next steps. Access to other services may depend on eligibility criteria, referral arrangements and waiting times.
For organisations and employers
Referral arrangements are being developed and further information will be published before launch.
Employers can:
- share information about WorkWell
- support conversations about health and work
- consider reasonable adjustments
- support return-to-work plans where appropriate.
Any involvement from an employer requires the employee's consent.
The Kent and Medway Growth Hub: Practical support to help employers recruit from a wider talent pool, support staff when challenges come up, and create a workplace where people can do their best work.
Working for WorkWell
Available vacancies will be published soon. Please keep an eye on this page for more details.
Referral arrangements are being developed and further information will be published before launch.
Contact details
WorkWell Service
kentchft.workwell@nhs.net
