Evaluation shows potential of WorkWell Sussex to improve health, confidence and employment outcomes

An independent evaluation of WorkWell Sussex, a programme providing personalised health and employment support to people with health conditions, has found that locally designed services can improve people’s wellbeing and confidence and help them move towards work, training or volunteering.

The evaluation also found that the approach could generate wider social and economic value. High-level modelling estimated that every £1 invested could produce around £3.54 in value through increased economic activity and improvements in quality of life. This is modelled potential value, rather than a direct financial saving.

WorkWell Sussex provided health and employment support for people with musculoskeletal and mental health issues that affected their ability to return to work or remain in employment.

The programme ran in Crawley, East Brighton and Hastings as key front-runner locations for neighbourhood health in Sussex. Each of these areas were at the front of the development of integrated working between health, care and community organisations.

Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex supported NHS Sussex* in the development and delivery of the programme and commissioned Unity Insights to undertake an independent evaluation.

*Prior to the merger that formed NHS Surrey & Sussex

Different approaches for different communities

The three pilot areas tested distinct ways of identifying and supporting people.

In Crawley, the programme began as a musculoskeletal health service based in primary care. It later expanded to cover a wider range of long-term conditions, referral routes and community outreach. Participants received structured coaching to identify their goals and connect with relevant employment, education and community services.

East Brighton delivered support through the Crew Club charity, working closely with primary care. An occupational therapist and a health and employment social prescriber attended the community setting each week. This enabled people to access support in a familiar place and helped the team build on existing relationships within the community.

In Hastings, primary care teams identified people through repeat fit note reviews and care coordinator outreach. Occupational therapy support focused on helping people retain their jobs, return to work and discuss practical adjustments with employers.

Across the programme, 48 people were referred. East Brighton accounted for 46% of referrals, Crawley for 35% and Hastings for 19%.

Nearly a third of referrals came from the two most deprived areas, rising to 36% among people with a known deprivation score. All came through East Brighton, showing the potential of trusted community organisations to reach people in areas of high deprivation. However, women accounted for 69% of referrals and White British people for 63%, suggesting that some minority ethnic communities were underrepresented, particularly in Crawley. Future services should monitor reach and engagement and adapt referral routes where needed.

Evidence of improved confidence and wellbeing

People taking part reported improvements in their confidence to manage their health and stay in work when difficulties arose. The average score increased from 4.54 to 5.83 out of ten, a statistically significant change.

Mental wellbeing scores also improved. Average Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale scores increased from 17.56 to 22.48 on a scale of 7 to 35, where higher scores indicate better mental wellbeing, with statistically significant improvements in six of the seven individual aspects assessed. Participants also reported a smaller improvement in their ability to manage their own health and wellbeing, from 2.57 to 2.83 out of five.

The evaluation identified examples of people moving into paid work, taking part in job trials, enrolling in training, volunteering and becoming more ready to look for employment. It also found examples of support helping people manage their health at work or prepare for a return after a period of absence.

For example, one participant who had been unemployed for 14 years received coaching shaped around their goal of working in administration. They enrolled on a course with tutor support and began volunteering, helping them take practical steps towards returning to work.

Another participant accessed WorkWell through a community centre they already knew. With regular support, they identified their existing skills, explored training and apprenticeship options and successfully applied for a paid role at the centre.

What helped the programme work?

Strong local partnerships, trusted referral routes and flexible, person-centred support were central to the pilot’s delivery.

Rather than dealing with health and employment as separate issues, staff could help people address immediate barriers, such as benefits, finances, childcare, housing and digital access. They could then connect participants with occupational therapy, employment support, training, volunteering or other local services.

The evaluation found that familiar settings, longer private appointments and consistent contact helped people discuss what was preventing them from working. Direct links with employers and support with workplace adjustments were also important, particularly for people trying to remain in work or return after an absence.

Building on the findings

Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, Head of Portfolio for Programme Delivery, Lisa Devine, –

“These findings give NHS Surrey and Sussex and partners a practical foundation for the next stage of this work. They can build on what worked locally, strengthen the areas that need further development and put consistent monitoring in place to understand the longer-term impact for people and communities.”

The evaluation describes WorkWell Sussex as a proof of concept, rather than a definitive assessment of its long-term impact. Delivery and follow-up periods were short, the number of participants was small and Hastings was unable to collect follow-up survey data. Further evaluation is needed to understand whether changes in confidence, wellbeing and employment are sustained.

The report recommends establishing a clear core model while retaining flexibility for local areas. It also calls for multidisciplinary support, stronger employer involvement, consistent outcome monitoring and longer-term follow-up.

The findings provide practical evidence for the future development of health and employment support in Surrey and Sussex. They show the value of starting with the person’s circumstances, using relationships that already exist in local communities and addressing the health, practical and employment barriers that can prevent someone from moving forward.

Future plans

Looking ahead, Surrey County Council, acting as the Lead Accountable Body for the Surrey & Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB), will coordinate the delivery of the next phase of the WorkWell programme across Surrey and Sussex from 2026 to 2029. Services are scheduled to go live in November 2026, providing personalised employment and health support to residents who need help to start, stay in, or return to work.

Over the three-year programme, WorkWell is expected to support around 10,000 people across Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, and Brighton & Hove. By addressing the wider health, wellbeing and employment challenges that can create barriers to work, the programme aims to help residents improve their physical and mental wellbeing, build confidence and resilience, and progress towards sustainable employment outcomes. Through a joined-up approach that brings together health, employment and wider support services, WorkWell will provide coordinated, person-centred support, tailored to individual needs.

View three-page report summary 

Read the full WorkWell Sussex Evaluation report