“This is the longest period I have sustained a return to work since I first became unwell.”

“I had experienced some mental health difficulties and taken sick leave from work on a number of occasions and, when I tried twice before, my efforts to return to work had not gone well. I felt quickly overwhelmed by routine tasks and became unwell again. When I went off sick last time I was able to recognise that work was increasing my stress and creating a cycle of ‘managing as long as possible’ until I became sick again. At this point my allocated nurse made a referral to Good Work.

I felt a little dubious about what support I might receive, as I was unsure how the cycle of stress impacting my health could be managed. I felt that the service was well explained to me by Bobbie, who made the initial contact with me, and I felt hopeful about having specific support with my employment.

When I met Sarah, my Employment Specialist, she helped me to navigate my Occupational Health report and assisted me to share my mental health support needs with my manager. Work had been very good at supporting me to return to work and sustain my wellbeing on this occasion, having taken note of the pressures which had impacted me on my prior attempts to return to work.

Sarah explained reasonable adjustments and helped me to identify my needs, such as a phased return, and liaised to inform my managers about how they could support my wellness at work. I felt strongly that some of the suggestions work had made were too protective and too cautious in terms of them worrying about my level of risk, dealing with customers and team members. Sarah was able to advocate for me and reassure work that I was stable, and well enough to be given more responsibility, and that I would work with my managers to express any concerns I had.

I have now been back at work for almost three months, on a structured phased return, and I have worked my way up to thirty hours per week. This is the longest period I have sustained a return to work since I first became unwell. I have learned to communicate clearly with my manager, and have begun to identify the strengths I have and the triggers at work, which would have previously unseated me.

I feel able to contact Sarah if I require support and I feel I have begun to master my own wellness, ask for help, and can finally see a stable future at work. I also know that I have a structured discharge plan and can contact Sarah for additional support should I need it.

I would definitely recommend Good Work. I am not normally someone who would accept support, so to be able to make positive use of the knowledge and information provided to me says how beneficial Good Work has been.”