Agenda item

To receive a report introducing the topic of ‘Health and Work’ and providing background information to prepare for a discussion at the Board. The discussion will focus on how organisations represented by the Board can work together to achieve better employment outcomes for those experiencing barriers to work.  The report will be presented by Sarah McMillan, Service Director Human Resources.

To receive a report introducing the topic of ‘Health and Work’ and providing background information to prepare for a discussion at the Board. The discussion will focus on how organisations represented by the Board can work together to achieve better employment outcomes for those experiencing barriers to work.  A copy of the presentation is filed with the signed minutes. 

A presentation was given by Kevin Higgins and Pam Lee which set the context of this work and the need for Regeneration and Public Health to work together along with other partners to recognise the relationship between the health and work and reduce inequalities in the labour market.  The following key points were made:-

•       Post Covid, there was relatively weak employment growth, hard to fill vacancies and a shrinking labour pool.  There was a noticeable trend in Economic Inactivity (people not in employment but not looking for work) and an increase in Economic Inactivity due to ill health.

•       Data was showing that the labour force was shrinking which was impacting economic recovery.  The workforce was also aging.

•       Over 1.7 million people outside the workforce (particularly those with disabilities or caring responsibilities) wanted to work but were unable to without support.

•       The economically inactive was a diverse group comprising those unable to work due to health/caring responsibilities, those who did not need to work and those who needed help to work.

•       Nationally, the numbers of those inactive due to long term illness in the UK was increasing, whereas the trend was decreasing in other countries.

•       Northumberland’s unemployment rate was relatively low at 4.4%.  However, of the economically inactive, 10,000 wanted to work.  The main causes of long term sickness were mental health issues, muscular/skeletal conditions and diabetes.  Graphs were shown of the trends since 2018.

•       The system to improve economic opportunities was split into three areas

•       Anchor institutions – had a key role to play in their recruitment, retention and support practices and using their commissioning and social value powers.

•       Through good quality work – what employers could do through good quality work around improving accessibility and flexibility of work

•       Supporting those needing help to work – a better integration of employment support and health services was critical to ensure people had the support they needed and to meet employer demand.

The Board was invited to consider a number of questions on how to move this area of work forward.  The following comments were made:-

•       Vacancies could be difficult to fill.  Covid had forced employers to think differently and move away from employees having to come into the office.  Adaptations could be made to allow those having difficulties with accessibility to work at home.  It was acknowledged that the nature of some posts meant that they were not suitable for flexible or home working. 

•       Paid employment was very important for a person’s self-worth but this should also be good quality jobs with good wages.

•       Employment and health were important areas which needed to be looked at as part of the wider determinants within the Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy (JHWS).  It was important to work with the 10,000 who wanted to return to work to encourage them back.  Board members all represented large organisations and it was their corporate social responsibility to look for ways to help people back into employment.

•       It was suggested that each member discussed with their organisation with a view to coming back to the May meeting with robust answers to the questions to identify what was being done and the commitment to go further.  Comments should be sent to Kevin Higgins or Pam Lee.

•       Within Northumberland’s Primary Care sector there were at least 40 different employers with which to discuss their corporate responsibility to make good decisions around recruitment and to best serve their communities.  Was it fair or legal to recruit preferentially from somewhere where you may give the maximum benefit to the community?  There would be discussions at the Primary Care Collaborative.  

•       People’s lives were very complex and maybe there should be discussions with people who had already been helped or not helped by interventions.

•       It was important to know whether what was being done was working, and if it was not working, so that it could be changed.

•       How could the challenge be made achievable and targeted at cohorts of health and focus efforts on the 10,000 wanting to return to work?  Recruitment strategies could be worked on to change the focus of recruitment and find the interested parties.  Was there a correlation between younger people who were not entering the workforce and health and did this further refine how the problem was looked at?

•       A breakdown of the figures into mental illness and physical illness would be helpful as the solution to get people back into the job market could differ between them.  It was possible there was a ‘benefit trap’ currently, as there were plenty of applications for jobs but then few applicants actually attended the interview.

•       Northumberland County Council was committed to tackling inequalities but there was still much work to be done.  A clear and simplified action list would be helpful to see what work needed to be done, what had been done to see where a difference had been made.

RESOLVED that

(1)    receive the contents of the report be received and the recommendations of Northumberland’s Inclusive Economy Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) noted.

(2)    Board Members discuss with their respective organisations and feedback to a future meeting of the Health & Wellbeing Board.