The Imperial NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), a partnership between the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College, has been awarded nearly £113million by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in the latest round of funding announcements (August, 2011). This award will start in April 2012 and will be used to support translational research and healthcare innovations across the partnership over the course of five years.
The integration of Work Coaches (WCs) & Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs) into UK General Practice (GP) provides an innovative approach to bridging the gap between health & employment services. We now reflect on the findings of our recent study led by Shriti Patani, Lara Shemtob & Kabir Varghese in collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Primary Care and Public Health at Imperial College London. The study explored the benefits & challenges of integrating emplyment support services in primary care from the perspectives of GPs & work coaches. What’s the context? Employment is a critical social determinant of health, with unemployment linked to poorer physical & mental wellbeing & reduced quality of life. Traditionally, individuals seeking employment support access services through Jobcentres. However, barriers including stigma or lack of awareness - especially in people with disabilities or long-term health conditions -...
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