Tackling health-related economic inactivity among 50–64-year-olds

Greater Manchester Combined Authority and NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care

About the project

Context and objectives

During phase one of the Mayoral Regions Programme (MRP), health-focused posts were embedded within some of the Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs), including in Greater Manchester. 

The work of each post centred around a region-specific area of focus, with the programme funding enabling there to be work in areas where there were previously gaps in capacity or expertise. The programme has meant there has been dedicated leadership for critical issues and has accelerated progress on regional health priorities. 

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority identified high levels of health-related economic inactivity among people aged 50–64 as a priority, and the embedded MRP post delivered a programme of work to build actionable insight on how to reduce barriers to work in this cohort. 

Achievements and outcomes

The embedded post worked collaboratively with NHS and Combined Authority colleagues to develop a refined dataset and carried out hotspot analysis to identify areas with the highest levels of health-related economic inactivity for those aged 50–64 years in the region. 

Stakeholder engagement and case study analysis was also carried out, including taking insight from programmes such as WorkWell Partnership Vanguard, Skills Bootcamps and Support to Succeed. This provided evidence on barriers and effective support models for older workers. 

Theories of Change (TOC) were then produced, outlining system conditions, assumptions and levers for reducing inactivity. A region-specific, as well as a more generalisable TOC was developed to enable use across other MSAs. A report was also produced for MSAs on adopting a health-and-employment system approach to economic inactivity, which has been shared across regions and via the MRP’s online learning network. 

Outputs from the project have been used to inform the region’s Get Britain Working plan and underpin work within the new regional Get Britain Working Collaborative.  

Reflections, learning and impact

The provision of funding and collaborative support from the MRP to undertake this project work enabled the Combined Authority to take focused action on a significant regional health challenge and tap into the programme’s wider insights and contacts to enhance their strategic approach. The additional capacity provided by the embedded post also helped to strengthen partnership working across local and regional employment systems and brought health and economic development initiatives closer together.  

Insights from the project have strengthened the evidence and strategic narrative around supporting older people to remain economically active, recognising relationships with the building blocks of health, and informed key regional employment and health-related policy and delivery. The project has also created transferrable learning for other MSAs to apply to their work on employment and health. 

Alongside the undertaking of project work, the embedded post worked collaboratively with the MRP team to share insights via a cross-regional community of learning on work and health. This supported other MSAs to gain a clearer understanding of regional employment and health challenges and related interventions, facilitating the shaping of more strategic and systems-focussed approaches.  

This project has reinforced the importance of taking a holistic approach to tackling regional health inequalities, strengthened by the inclusion of target population lived experience and a broad range of stakeholder input, and has helped enhance links between health, employment and public service reform agendas.

Resources

Key insights from this project are available via the media centre of the MRP’s online learning network, which is hosted by the Health Equity Network.  

• Sign up to the Health Equity Network.