Mental health patients could get job coach visits

The Victorian work ethic is still in action under Labour


"Mental health patients could get job coach visits"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98y09n8201o


"Job coaches could visit mental health patients when they are in hospital to help them get back to work, the government has said.

Trials of employment advisers giving CV and interview advice in hospitals produced "dramatic results", Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told the BBC.

She said a wider roll out would form part of her drive to shrink the UK's annual disability and incapacity benefits bill.

But disability rights campaigners expressed concerns about the proposals, saying they have the potential to worsen someone's mental health.

"It is ridiculous to try and turn a hospital, a place of care and support into a business setting," said Mikey Erhardt, campaigner at Disability Rights UK.

James Taylor, executive director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, added: “We need to see evidence that work coaches being sent to visit seriously ill people works, and doesn’t cause distress."

The cost of disability benefits specifically is projected to surge almost a third in the next four to five years, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

It predicted the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) would spend £63bn by 2028-29, a jump from £48bn for 2023-24.

“I want to see those costs coming down, because I want to have people able to work, to get on in their work, which is good for them," Kendall told BBC News in an exclusive interview.

She indicated some people will lose their benefits, saying the "benefit system can have a real impact on whether you incentivise or disincentivise work".

Kendall praised projects in Leicester and at the Maudsley Hospital in Camberwell, in south-east London, which offered employment support - such as training on CV writing and interviews - to people with serious mental health conditions, including on hospital wards.

"The results of getting people into work have been dramatic, and the evidence clearly shows that it is better for their mental health," she said.

However, disability rights campaigner Erhardt said he would like to see the evidence of the trials.

"It is hugely inappropriate to be considering subjecting people who experience mental ill-health and distress to a CV check-up," he said.

Minesh Patel, associate director of policy and campaigns at Mind, added: “We welcome this much-needed spotlight on mental health hospitals [but] we’re still waiting to see the full details of the scheme and results of the trials.

“Right now, too many people with the most serious mental health problems are left more traumatised by their stay in hospital. If we want people to join or rejoin the workforce, they need safe and compassionate care that helps them truly get better.""

Well said sir, but its falling on deaf ears...

"It is ridiculous to try and turn a hospital, a place of care and support into a business setting," said Mikey Erhardt, campaigner at Disability Rights UK."

Also this piece is in the 'business news' section, do I need to say more. And not in the health news?🧐

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health

Same old news story, must be a slow news day? So is this how the dwp proposes to reduce the mental health budget. By putting patients off even stepping into a mental health building?  Only to be harassed by a Roach. No doubt with minimal training ( 2xweek training course?). What happens later down the line, when an incident happens . There have been numerous incident's, of mental health patients in the news. Not getting the help they need, and go off the rails️... Then the news story/ article has these words: Tradegy, an avoidable Accident, Questions asked why, etc etc... When will they learn...

I am still waiting for some jingle, from the dwp to brainwash patients. Something like "Work is fun, work is great......"