What are we doing?

We are working with healthcare professionals, employers and all those who share our commitment to improving the health of the working age population. Our current projects and activities include:

Identifying and promoting good practice

• Gathering case studies to demonstrate best practice in the field.
• Working to build further our evidence base on what works and why.
• Promoting and encouraging good practice through award programmes - for example, the Healthy Working Lives Awards in Scotland, the Corporate Health Standards in Wales and our sponsorship of the National Business Awards and the Business in the Community Awards 2007.

Working with stakeholders

• Developing a range of initiatives to engage, support and advise healthcare professionals, and in particular GPs, on health and work issues.
• Developing and improving the range and capacity of occupational health services.
• Providing tangible support for employers – in particular, small businesses.
• Encouraging public sector organisations to lead by example in managing health at work.
• Encouraging partners to work together at a regional and local level.

Driving change

• Developing and improving the range and capacity of occupational health services.
• Looking at measures to improve health and employment outcomes for people with mental health conditions.
• Providing tangible support for employers – in particular, small businesses.
• Educating individuals and raising awareness through national communications campaigns such as HSE’s Better Backs and the Welsh Assembly Government’s Welsh Backs campaigns.