For Rebecca, a combination of physical and mental health challenges had created significant barriers to employment and everyday life.
Chronic pain and fatigue, low mood, anxiety and difficulties with organisation, focus and managing day-to-day demands had left them feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about their ability to return to work.
Through tailored Health Advisory sessions, they developed a better understanding of their needs, learned practical strategies to manage challenges and, importantly, began to rebuild their confidence.
Understanding the barriers
The individual was experiencing a range of challenges affecting their wellbeing and ability to work, including:
- Chronic pain and fatigue, affecting energy levels and daily functioning.
- Low mood, impacting motivation and productivity.
- Anxiety and panic, creating additional barriers to everyday activities.
- Potential neurodivergence, with referrals in place for further assessment.
- Overwhelm and executive functioning difficulties, making organisation, focus and maintaining routines challenging.
Together, these challenges made sustaining employment and managing everyday responsibilities difficult.
A personalised approach
The Health Advisory Programme provided a safe space to explore these challenges and identify practical ways forward.
Support included:
- Regular wellbeing check-ins to monitor progress and provide ongoing support.
- Neurodiversity screening and psychoeducation, helping the individual develop a greater understanding of how their brain works.
- Exploring learning preferences to identify approaches that could make information and tasks easier to manage.
- Guidance around the Right to Choose pathway and appropriate GP signposting.
- Psychoeducation around emotions, somatic management and energy management.
- Strategies for managing neurodiverse burnout and executive dysfunction.
- Introduction of visual tools and organisational strategies to support focus and planning.
- Guidance around workplace adjustments, including a Health Disclosure Plan.
- Development of a recovery plan and practical coping strategies to support long-term wellbeing.
Rather than focusing solely on returning to work, the sessions helped the individual understand the barriers they were facing and identify strategies they could continue using beyond the programme.
Measuring the distance travelled
The individual’s progress was reflected in their pre- and post-programme scores.
The greatest change was seen in stress and anxiety, improving by three points. Mood and energy and diet also improved by two points, while confidence around returning to work increased.
Perhaps the most significant outcome was not simply reflected in the scores, but in how the individual described their own progress.
“I now have an understanding of myself.”
They also shared:
“I know the steps I need to take to go forward.”
This growing self-awareness gave them greater confidence in recognising their needs, managing challenges and making positive changes.
Taking the next step
A major milestone came when the individual successfully secured a role in community care and was preparing to start work.
After a period of uncertainty, securing employment represented an important step forward not only professionally, but personally.
With a better understanding of their needs and a toolkit of strategies to draw upon, they felt more prepared to navigate the transition back into employment.
Supporting sustainable employment
As they began their new role, the focus shifted towards maintaining the progress they had made.
Recommendations included developing a Health Disclosure Plan to support conversations around workplace adjustments and exploring the [Access to Work] scheme for additional support where appropriate.
Future employment was also considered in the context of their health needs, with roles that minimise heavy physical demands and offer flexibility potentially providing a more sustainable working environment.
The impact
This individual’s journey demonstrates the impact that personalised, holistic support can have when health and wellbeing challenges create barriers to employment.
Through the Health Advisory Service, they were able to:
Reduce stress and anxiety
Moving from experiencing anxiety most of the time to reporting it rarely.
Improve mood and energy
Moving from low energy and completing only a few tasks most days to feeling good and more efficient.
Develop greater self-understanding
Gaining insight into their needs, challenges and the strategies that work for them.
Build confidence
Moving from feeling doubtful about opportunities to looking forward to returning to work.
Secure employment
Successfully gaining a new role in community care and taking an important step towards returning to the workforce.
Looking ahead
The individual’s progress highlights that successful employment support isn’t simply about getting someone into a job. It’s about helping people understand their barriers, build confidence and develop the tools they need to make employment sustainable.
With continued use of the strategies developed during the programme, appropriate workplace adjustments and access to ongoing support, they are now better equipped to take their next steps with greater confidence and resilience.
