New Work And Health Support Guide Launched For Barrow And Furness Residents
Residents and employers across Barrow and Furness can now access a new guide bringing together free support for health, wellbeing and employment.
Launched by Westmorland and Furness Council on November 5, the Work and Health Support Guide aims to make it easier for people to find appropriate services in one place. It brings together information from organisations working across the area, helping residents, employers and professionals identify support suited to different personal and workplace circumstances.
The guide covers a broad range of issues connected with physical and mental wellbeing. It includes information for people who need help managing their health while remaining in employment, as well as those hoping to return to work after a period of illness or injury.
Employment and skills support is another important part of the resource. People looking to develop new skills, improve their employment prospects or explore opportunities to return to work can use the guide to identify relevant local services and assistance.
The resource also recognises that health conditions can affect people's ability to remain in work. Some employees may need advice or adjustments to help them continue working, while others may require additional support after an extended absence. Bringing information together is intended to make finding suitable assistance less complicated.
Employers are also being encouraged to use the guide. It includes information about workplace wellbeing, supporting staff with health conditions and creating positive working environments. Businesses may also find guidance on reducing sickness absence and helping employees maintain their health at work.
The council says the initiative reflects the important relationship between good health and good employment. Secure and supportive work can contribute to people's wellbeing, while health difficulties can create barriers to finding or maintaining employment.
Councillor Patricia Bell, Cabinet Member for Adult Care at Westmorland and Furness Council, said many residents face challenges that can affect their ability to find work, remain employed or return after illness. She said the new guide brings together a wide range of services to make it easier for people to access the help they need.
Councillor Bell also encouraged residents, employers and professionals to explore the resource and share it with anyone who could benefit. The council hopes that wider awareness will help more people find appropriate support before workplace or health difficulties become more difficult to manage.
The guide is designed for more than one audience. Residents can use it to explore personal support options, employers can identify resources for their teams, and professionals can use the information when helping people access relevant services.
Its launch forms part of wider work across Westmorland and Furness to improve the connection between health and employment. The council's public health work has highlighted the importance of fair, inclusive and supportive workplaces in helping communities maintain better health.
For people in Barrow and the surrounding Furness area, having information about different services in a single resource could make it easier to understand where to turn for help. It also provides an opportunity for employers to consider how workplace practices can better support staff wellbeing.
The council is encouraging local organisations and individuals to make use of the guide and circulate it through their networks. By improving awareness of existing services, the initiative aims to help residents access support with health, employment and skills when they need it.
The Work and Health Support Guide is available through Westmorland and Furness Council's website. Residents and employers can consult the resource to explore the support available across the Barrow and Furness areas.
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