Government plans to get long term sick back to work.

[Miley1967]

Does anyone have any information about how the Government are planning to get long term sick/ disabled back to work? I have read there is a paper being published/ announced this week. In my local area ( East Midlands) I have seen jobs advertised this week ( multiple jobs) for health and work coaches but employed through the NHS and based in Gp surgeries, so it does seem as though they are already taking steps to implement this.
Just a bit worried for some of my clients( I work in benefits advice work ) as to whether this is going to be pushed on them or if it's a scheme they will choose to be part of and just wondering what it is going to entail, will these coaches be working with employers who are genuinely going to be able to support this group of people into work?

Of course someone with a foot injury may be able to do other work. Although it does depend how much pain they are in and whether they need to be reclined to allow it to heal.
The benefit system already says that you will be considered unemployed if you can't do the job you used to, but could do another job.
The real issue is when someone is no longer capable of doing a physical job or even a job that involves decent mobility, but can't manage an office computer job e.g. low literacy levels. The unskilled jobs that used to exist have largely gone.
A relative of mine is desperate to work. Used to do a physical job and can't. Got another job, got sacked because their literacy level meant they kept making mistakes on computer and was incredibly slow. Got another job where they were promised use of computer was very occasional. Straight after training they found they were expected to be on the computer half the time. Looks like they will be sacked from this job too. They have some learning difficulties so improving their literacy is not as easy as it sounds - they have had so much training to try to and have improved it slightly, but only slightly.
People like this used to be car park attendants, cashier on tills (now you alternate with shelf stacking), etc. Jobs that have largely gone.
If anyone has any ideas for suitable jobs that would be brilliant.

And you'd apply that policy to someone who is genuinely unable to work due to disability/severe health issues and has been medically declared unfit for work? Yes, take away their ability to feed themselves and keep a roof over their head,that will really help. Bloody hell,I despair sometimes.

Call centre?

@username8348 These tend to be in sales or customer services and are pretty stressful. I have a friend who does this and I do not think my relative could cope with the targets or the abuse from the public.

@username8348 I mean my relative would probably manage to get a call centre job, but would I suspect be sacked again soon. I have been trying to look around to find something suitable, but struggling. I am really worried they are going to end up not able to work at all as working has been good for their self esteem.
I know most people not working do not fit into this category. But I am sure there is a subset of older people who do. My nephew has quite complex autism and works as a farm labourer and is very good at it. I can see the same issues for him if he gets an injury or illness that means he can no longer do physical work.

Jobs like visitor assistant at national trust type places if they have good people skills.

They can't talk to people either? If they can't do anything physical, can't withstand any stress, can't use a computer or do anything with literacy or deal with the public - it's very difficult.

@username8348 I did not say they can not talk to people. As I said call centre work involves a lot of abuse from the public and is very stressful.

@icelolly12 I thought they were mainly volunteers? I know someone retired who volunteers to do this. Their mobility is very poor.

@username8348 Just to add, I know it is very hard to come up with anything that they will not get sacked from. The jobs that would suit, are all physical. Labouring, basic gardening, cleaning, driving, etc would all have been ideal in the past.

Do you really think that everyone is sick with anxiety?

Total rubbish.

With a broken NHS, people who were previously perfectly functional are unable to work. My friend is a lifelong market gardener, in her late 50s. Knees knackered from years of hard graft, in constant pain - she can’t concentrate for any length of time. She’s doing nothing at the moment because she’s still waiting for knee replacements. Who will employ her?

I think with older people off sick, it will be the NHS that can bring the number down. But with younger people it is largely mental health. And I don't know how we change that. Especially as someone with PIP and on benefits won't be better off if they get a minimum wage job. There is no incentive.

The bill has increased by 25% in the past 5 years. Suppose we need to bring that down we either need all of the sick to agree to that they all can't work at all and get 25% less each or we need to persuade some of them that they aren't as sick as they think they are. Pretty sure 25% would be able to find some work if they didn't have the gold plated safety net.

To be quite honest I don’t know who would employ them. There are not enough good quality jobs, and competition is fierce for what there is. My young adult children are fit and well, with good workplace experience and it is tough enough for them. Imagine throwing mental poor health into the mix.

Gold plated safety net.

pah.

Part of the problem is that entrepreneurs used to partly do what we do for the common good. It’s a matter of pride to create jobs for your community. But when sections of your community are so bitter and negative, it’s tempting to just think ‘fuck you’. And retire early for an easier life. Or go abroad, taking your capital and expertise with you.

Gold plated!! ESA is only £90 a week. You can get top ups for rent and children through universal credit. Most of the older people off long term sick will only get ESA though and a council tax reduction.

Alternatively get companies paying proper wages and put a cap on rent so people aren't paying so much rent?

I think house prices need to fall and rents. They are the source of so many problems.
Introduce a rent cap and limit air bnbs and house prices will fall as they will no longer be a good investment.
I do think there needs to be a stronger test for those with mental health problems. Or maybe state run employment?

If higher wages will motivate them, lower benefits should have the same effect. 7% of 25 year olds are too sick to work. How can that be right?

@Beekeepingmum I agree with the 7% being gobsmacking. But it won't make much difference cutting benefits. They will mainly be getting PIP and will that make up any cuts to what young people who are simply unemployed get.

I think I suggested state run employment effectively earlier in the thread. Get people to do the jobs which no longer make sense economically in return for the benefits so there is at least some positive contribution from the time. Mental health issues could do gardening around public areas which is no longer done for example. But the response was workfare... Utlimately some people would rather just do nothing. I bet a good number of those 7% 25 year old are able to spend the day playing computer games etc.

@Beekeepingmum No not for benefits, for minimum wage. And if they refuse to work then dock benefits.

Although Thatchers youth unemployment scheme that provided work placements to unemployed young people with charities was good. You had to be under 25 years old, and you got more money than benefits, but less than a wage. It had to include some training. I know various people who got work through that scheme. Alongside that there was a scheme to help young people become self employed. You had to have a decent business idea, but you got a bit more than unemployment benefit and access to advice and support. You could also apply for a grant for equipment. Again I know people who worked self employed until retirement from this scheme.

And the people already doing those jobs?

@TigerRag that is why the charity youth unemployment scheme was good. The ones that place people in businesses always end up taking away actual jobs.
A friend for example was placed in a citizens advice bureax and trained up over many months to give advice. They ended up getting a paid job to do this. She was only 18 when she got the placement and had to be taught how to be professional and relate to vulnerable people, so would never have got a job like that without the placement.

These jobs aren't currently being done because their value is less than minimum wage. Increasing the minimum wage means more jobs become uneconomic. E.g. it used to be that a car park would employ and attendant but then it got too expensive so machines take place. Takes why it would make sense for some these to be done in return for benefits. It wouldn't need to full time but just the process of going to work will help people get jobs.