WHP helps Heather from Havering follow her career dreams

Working with Maximus, our delivery partners the Local London’s Work and Health Programme has helped over 6,000 people in our boroughs to find work since it began in 2018.

Extended until 2026 to help residents in Local London who are furthest from the job market to find employment, we recently brokered a local agreement between Jobcentre Plus and Maximus that has cleared a self-referral bottleneck that was preventing residents from self-referring on to the programme.  Within the first two months of implementation over 60 residents joined the programme through the self-referral process, allowing more people across our boroughs to access the support they need.

For some people the programme transforms their lives beyond simply finding work, including Heather* in Havering who was thrilled with the support she has received. For her the experience has changed her outlook on life and she cannot wait to see what her future holds now.

Heather said: “As a single mum of 3 children under 10 and suffering from severe depression and anxiety, going on the Work and Health Programme was a massive step for me. Before I did this, I struggled to leave the house due to my mental health. I was really nervous about my first meeting, but my coach Jasvinder was so welcoming and has been very helpful. She instantly made me feel comfortable.

All my life, even before having my own, I’ve wanted to work with children, but I didn’t know where to start!

I didn’t complete any GCSE’s as, due to some difficult mental health issues, I left school in year 9 and was home schooled.

I’d worked in an office before I had my first child doing customer service but apart from that, I had no previous qualifications or experience. However, during lockdown I managed to complete two Level 2 courses at home – ‘Introducing caring for children and young people’ and ‘Understanding children and young people’s mental health’ but following that I just didn’t know what to do.

Then I met Jasvinder. She found me an amazing course to complete; Level 3 ‘Specialist support for teaching and learning in schools.’

This course was fully paid for by Maximus and they even lent me a Chromebook to ensure I could get all my course completed as stress-free as possible. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do it, but Jasvinder was amazing and so supportive, ensuring I had everything in place and offering her ear to vent to about any worries I may have. I’m now just waiting to complete a work placement in a school and will be fully qualified and guaranteed a ton of opportunities and that is thanks to Maximus and Jasvinder, giving me the chance and the opportunity to make something of myself. And I cannot wait to see what my future holds now.

I am so grateful because, yes it pushed me out of my comfort zone, especially travelling to Stratford but I did it with her support and guidance and it felt so good. I have developed a much more positive outlook on life and am following my dreams! Maximus are continuing to support me to get my ID and get professional references for any future work!

Remember you can be anything you want with the correct support, and I would 100% recommend Maximus and the Work and Health Programme!”

The Local London Work and Health Programme provides support for up to 21 months for people who have been unemployed for 24 months or more or have long-term health conditions and/or disabilities.

Funded by The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and European Social Fund (ESF), we work with Maximus and manage the programme on behalf of our boroughs – Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, Enfield, Greenwich, Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest – to help more people get into and retain good jobs.

Find out more: whp.maximusuk.co.uk/london

*name has been changed.