Employment valued as a key social recovery factor

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A valued relationship with Mental Health, Addiction and Intellectual Disability Services (MHAIDS) in the Wellington region is a crucial part of Workwise’s ability to make a difference for people on their employment and wellbeing journey.

“Our core belief is in employment as a health intervention. Meaningful paid employment is a key goal in life for so many. When others around them value this, the person can focus on their recovery and finding hope,” says Spencer Kendall, General Manager at Workwise when reflecting on the partnership with Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley to support people facing health challenges to return to work or find employment.

The partnership sees a Workwise employment consultant co-located within each of the Kapiti, Hutt North, Hutt South, Te Whare Mariē, Health Pasifika, Porirua, Central and South Community mental health teams. Working collaboratively means that it’s easy for a person to access employment support at an early stage of their recovery, or whenever they are ready to think about working.

“This integrated approach means employment support is coordinated with healthcare and clinical treatment is tailored to support a person’s working life if they’re employed,” MHAIDS Group Manager, Waka Saba, says.

As part of our employment support, Workwise helps people to find a job of their choice, and ongoing assistance for the employer and employee to ensure the person keeps their job.

“By including an employment consultant as part of the service, MHAIDs are ensuring this key social recovery factor is included. The teams make it look easy these days, but I’m grateful for the leadership, welcome and work that has gone into ensuring Workwise is a seamless part of the MHAIDs service delivery,” explains Spencer.

In tightened economic circumstances and a tougher labour market, it’s clear that employment support has a positive impact on people securing work and other opportunities.

Workwise is pleased to share our employment support results for Wellington from the past year, including:

• 332 people supported on their employment journey, to prepare for and find a job
• 136 placements secured by people, either a job, training or other placement (such as work experience, trial or voluntary work)
• 44% of jobs secured were full-time.

“These results are very encouraging,” Waka says. “We know having meaningful employment, if you can work, is vitally important for many people to feel happy in their lives and is a key social recovery factor. And having employment consultants embedded in our services, makes the process much easier for our tāngata whaiora to navigate.”

Download the Workwise Wellington factsheet with employment support results for July 2023 to June 2024.