Mental health patients to get job coach visits, says minister

Published On Oct 15, 2024, 7:01 PM

The UK government is planning to roll out trials of job coaches visiting mental health wards to help seriously ill patients return to work. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall reported that previous trials providing support for CV writing and interview skills led to substantial improvements in employment outcomes for these patients. The government aims to reduce the rising costs of disability benefits, projected to soar from £48 billion in 2023-24 to £63 billion by 2028-29, as part of the new employment white paper coming soon. While advocating for better employment opportunities for people with mental health issues, Kendall also acknowledged concerns from disability rights groups regarding the potential negative impacts of these policies.