Work and Health Coach – Fit Note Reform Pilot
WorkWell Cornwall | Seeking 7 FTE across two Primary Care Networks | Full and part time options available | Flexible/hybrid working | 12 months fixed-term (with potential to extend)
Salary: £14.50 to £15.75 per hour depending on experience
Location: Mid-Cornwall PCNs (exact location tbc - St Austell & Newquay) - open to secondments, loans and direct employment within pilot PCNs
Do you want to be part of an exciting new Government pilot to help people stay and thrive in work?
Cornwall is one of four places chosen to trial new ways of supporting people who need to be signed off work because of ill health. This exciting Government pilot will replace traditional fit notes with personalised “Workability Plans” - meaningful, strengths-based conversations that focus on what people can do and the support they need to thrive in work.
Each of the four regions is asked to trial a different workforce for providing this extra help and support to people. Thanks to the strength of social prescribing and coaching practice here in Cornwall, our trial workforce will be primarily made up of work and health coaches, with expert clinical oversight from an occupational therapist.
The Government plans to use pilot learnings to inform national roll-out of reforms next year, with legislative change backed by funding for the workforce that proves most effective in providing people with extra help and support when their health makes work a struggle.
We’re looking for skilled, compassionate Work and Health Coaches to join us in trialling these flagship reforms, and put personalised conversations and support at the heart of the fit note process.
This is a unique opportunity for you to join a high-profile pilot, influence future Government policy, and help shape a new model of supporting people with health and work - all while working in a supportive community of practice and making a real difference to people’s lives
About the role
As a WorkWell Health Coach within a Primary Care Network, you will:
- Lead workability conversations with patients seeking time off work
- Explore the relationship between health, wellbeing and employment
- Co-produce personalised workability plans and, where appropriate, longer-term support plans
- Provide ongoing coaching and support to help people return to or remain in work
- Work closely with GPs, Occupational Therapists and other partners
- Help shape and test an innovative new approach as part of a national pilot
You will be at the forefront of delivering a single, holistic conversation that combines assessment, coaching and support - reducing duplication and improving outcomes for patients.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for people who are:
- Skilled in coaching-style, person-centred conversations
- Passionate about reducing health inequalities and supporting people into work
- Confident working with individuals facing complex barriers
- Able to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
- Comfortable with innovation, change and learning as we go
Experience in social prescribing, health coaching, employment support or community roles is highly desirable.
Training will also be provided.
Interested? Apply now!
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES
1. Workability Assessment and Coaching
Deliver structured workability conversations to assess:
- Impact of health on work
- job role demands
- opportunities for adjustments and support
Develop personalised workability plans focused on functional ability and return-to-work opportunities
Provide holistic coaching support, including:
- goal setting
- action planning
- motivational support
Deliver ongoing WorkWell coaching, typically across multiple sessions where appropriate
Support patients to identify and overcome health-related and social barriers to employment
2. Triage and Case Management
Undertake or support triage of patients
Identify when cases require:
- no further intervention
- coaching support
- escalation to clinical colleagues (e.g. Occupational Therapist)
Manage a caseload of participants, ensuring timely follow-up and progression
Ensure appropriate risk identification and escalation to clinical staff
3. Participant Support and Enablement
Provide person-centred, strengths-based support, focusing on “what matters to me”
Co-produce workability plans addressing physical, mental and social barriers
Support access to services including:
- health services
- community and voluntary sector support
- employment and skills provision
Liaise with employers (with consent) to support workplace adjustments and return-to-work plans
Use available resources (e.g. personal budgets/solutions funding) to address barriers
4. Partnership & MDT Working
Work as part of a PCN multi-disciplinary team, including GPs, OTs and social prescribers
Build strong relationships with:
- employers
- Jobcentre Plus
- VCSE organisations
- health and wellbeing services
Participate in MDT meetings, case discussions, and shared care planning
Support integration of WorkWell and fit note reform pathways
5. Service Development and Innovation
Support delivery of the Fit Note Reform Pilot service design
Contribute to embedding:
- the “work question” in primary care
- improved fit note/workability processes
Test and evaluate new approaches, contributing to continuous improvement and learning
Develop resources, case studies and best practice
6. Data, Reporting and Evaluation
- Maintain accurate and timely case records and outcome data
- Support monitoring and reporting requirements for the pilot
- Capture participant feedback and outcomes
- Use data to support service evaluation and improvement
7. Professional Responsibilities
Work within organisational policies including safeguarding, confidentiality and information governance
Participate in supervision, training and development
Engage in coaching supervision and reflective practice
Maintain professional boundaries and recognise when to escalate concerns
Personal Qualities & Attributes
Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person-centred
support in a non-judgemental way
Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities,
respecting lifestyles and diversity
Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to
reach people from all communities
Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence,
motivating others to reach their potential
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with
people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and
stakeholders
Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with
individuals
Have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or
necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies,
when what the person needs is beyond the scope of the link worker role
– e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified
practitioner
Able to work from an asset based approach, building on existing
community and personal assets
Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote
collaborative practice with all colleagues
Commitment to collaborative working with all local agencies (including
VCSE organisations and community groups). Able to work with others to
reduce hierarchies and find creative solutions to community issues
Demonstrates personal accountability, emotional resilience and works
well under pressure
Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when
under pressure and meeting deadlines
High level of written and oral communication skills ✓
Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own
initiative
Understanding of the needs of small volunteer-led community
groups and ability to support their development
Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures,
including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information
governance, and health and safety
Qualifications & Training
NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards
Coaching/counselling qualification/ experience or other relevant
qualification/experience involving reflective listening skills.
Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development
Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent
experience
Experience
Experience of working directly in a community development context,
adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health
improvement (including unpaid work)
Experience of working for a voluntary or statutory organisation that has
supported people with one or more of the following: money and welfare,
housing, mental health, isolation, physical activity, bereavement, carers
needs or support for elderly.
Experience of using coaching approaches/frameworks and models
or other helping strategies e.g. Motivational Interviewing.
Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related
role (including unpaid work)
Experience of supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid,
unpaid or informal capacity
Experience of working with the VCSE sector (in a paid or unpaid
capacity), including with volunteers and small community groups
Experience of data collection and providing monitoring information to
assess the impact of services
Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building
relationships across a variety of organisations
Skills and knowledge
Knowledge of the personalised care approach
Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social,
economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities
Knowledge of community development approaches
Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills,
emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports
Knowledge of motivational coaching and interview skills
Local knowledge of VCSE and community services in the locality
Other
Meets DBS reference standards and has a clear criminal record, in line
with the law on spent convictions
Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands
Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a
regular basis, including to visit people in their own homes
Understanding of and a commitment to equality, diversity and
inclusion.
Pay: £14.50-£15.75 per hour
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
Work Location: Hybrid remote in St. Austell (Cornwall)
