Research and analysis

Fit for Work: process evaluation and feasibility of an impact evaluation

These reports look at the implementation of Fit for Work and people's experiences of the service.

Documents

Fit for Work: final report of a process evaluation

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Fit for Work process evaluation: technical annex

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Summary: Fit for Work: final report of a process evaluation

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Fit for Work: scoping the feasibility of an impact evaluation

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Details

Fit for Work was an occupational health assessment and advice service looking to address long-term sickness absence, defined as an absence of 4 weeks or more, for people in employment. It was designed to help employees who were on, or in danger of entering, long-term sickness absence to return to and stay in work.

We commissioned this research to evaluate whether Fit for Work was implemented as designed and what the experiences of those that used the service were. There are 2 parts to the research:

  • a process evaluation examining how the service was operated and whether it was working as intended
  • a feasibility study which examined whether it was possible to assess the impact of the service on employment outcomes

Since commissioning the research it was announced that the Fit for Work assessment service would come to an end on:

  • 31 March 2018 in England and Wales
  • 31 May 2018 in Scotland

However, employers, employees and GPs will continue to have access to the same Fit for Work helpline, website and web chat, which offer general health and work advice on sickness absence.

Improving lives: the future of work, health and disability sets out plans to transform employment prospects for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions over the next 10 years. The findings of this research will help inform future policy development and reform of occupational health.

Authors

Fit for Work: final report of a process evaluation

Rosie Gloster and Clare Huxley (Institute for Employment Studies), and Rosa Marvell (University of Sussex).

Fit for Work: scoping the feasibility of an impact evaluation

Francisco Gonzalez Carreras (Queen Mary University of London), Jim Hillage (Institute for Employment Studies) and Stefan Speckesser (National Institute of Economic and Social Research).

Updates to this page

Published 21 June 2018

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