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Sam Atwell

@swjatwell.bsky.social
184 followers 93 following 56 posts

💼 Employment and health at the Health Foundation. Trustee at Big Futures Foundation.

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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
There has been lots going on around employment and health recently. Some quick thoughts from myself and Luisa on the new fit notes pilots announced by DWP, and what a more effective and integrated system could look like.
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The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Responding to the publication of Alan Milburn’s interim report on NEETs, @swjatwell.bsky.social​ says its findings are a clear-eyed account of how ill health, inadequate support and a lack of opportunities are holding over a million young people back. Read the response ⬇️ bit.ly/4nQThYF
'The higher share of NEET young people reporting ill health makes tackling the issue all the more urgent. More young people reporting health barriers signals that policymakers face an even greater challenge in connecting them to the workplace or study.' Sam Atwell, The Health Foundation
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The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Healthy life expectancy as a measure of the country’s health has attracted recent debate. Though not without its limitations, it nonetheless provides a valuable insight into the lived experience of a population whose health is declining, writes Andrew Mooney. Read more⬇️ bit.ly/4dJPMPh
The image shows a quote card: “Healthy life expectancy is an imperfect measure, but it remains a valuable signal of a growing problem.” 
Andrew Mooney, Principal Data Analyst, The Health Foundation
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
The Interim Report of the review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism has been published today. On first read through I think it helpfully parses what is known and what is not yet known on prevalence & service demand for these conditions assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69cbdb...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
New analysis today from @healthfoundation.bsky.social Recent data shows nearly a million young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) How is ill health contributing to youth worklessness? And what can the government do about it?
health.org.uk
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
New stats today show slight increase in the numbers of 16-24-year-olds not earning or learning - driven by higher unemployment. We have new analysis coming shortly showing how poor health has become increasingly important factor affecting NEET young people - could indicate greater issues ahead!
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Was great to speak with @zoegrunewald.bsky.social last week about the Keep Britain Working review, and what employers and government can be doing to support people with health conditions to thrive in work.
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Charlie Mayfield's Keep Britain Working report out today. It sets out a clear case for better workplace health support, and a call to action for employers to lead the charge. V. important with over 4 million workers now with work-limiting health conditions www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Keep Britain Working Review: Final report
Keep Britain Working is an independent review of the role of employers in tackling health based economic inactivity and promoting healthy and inclusive workplaces.
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The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
With Charlie Mayfield's Keep Britain Working Review reporting soon, @swjatwell.bsky.social​ explores the labour market health challenge and how government can respond to build a stronger, healthier and more sustainable employment system. Read more ⬇️ bit.ly/4oerKjq
'Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working review is an opportunity for government to work with employers to take decisive action on workforce health.' Sam Atwell, Policy and Research Manager at the Health Foundation
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Latest Access to Work stats are out today They show continued growth in the number of awards and spend, about 70% increase in both since 2019. This is not hugely surprising: there's now 4.1m workers with a work-limiting health condition, up from 2.4m a decade ago www.gov.uk/government/s...
gov.uk
Access to Work statistics: April 2007 to March 2025
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
New analysis from the @healthfoundation.bsky.social today. Statutory sick pay is being tweaked in the Employment Rights Bill, but these (welcome) reforms won't go far enough to protect workers financially The below sets out the context and some ideas for change. www.health.org.uk/reports-and-...
health.org.uk
Making statutory sick pay work
This analysis explains why current satutory sick pay reforms, though significant, do not go far enough and outlines a path to a better system.
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Gavin Kelly @gavin-kelly.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
‘Mayfield’s report argued that action to stop people leaving work when they first fell sick would make much more difference than reforms to the welfare system aimed at long-term benefits claimants.’ on.ft.com/4hoqxSu UK employers ‘find it cheaper to replace sick staff than retain them’
on.ft.com
UK employers ‘find it cheaper to replace sick staff than retain them’
Report by former John Lewis boss calls for stronger incentives for employers to invest in workforce health
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
The first report from Sir Charlie Mayfield's "Keep Britain Working" review has landed this morning. A very busy week in the health and employment space. A first scan through sees it echoes a lot from the recent @healthfoundation.bsky.social Commission. www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Keep Britain Working Review: Discovery
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
There was a lot to chew over in yesterday's green paper. There are real signs that the government wants to move towards an 'early intervention' approach for supporting people with health conditions into work But the bit cuts to PIP/UC eclipse these positives www.health.org.uk/press-office...
health.org.uk
The Health Foundation responds to the Pathways to Work Green Paper
David Finch, Assistant Director at the Health Foundation, responds to the Pathways to Work Green Paper published by the Department for Work and Pensions.
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Dr Lucy Foulkes @lucyfoulkes.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
I'd really encourage you to read this short article if you are remotely interested in the rise of mental-health related work inactivity - very thoughtful from @annieirvine.bsky.social www.health.org.uk/features-and... (cont)
health.org.uk
Unravelling the rise in mental health-related inactivity
Dr Annie Irvine on why we need a much more holistic approach to understanding capacity in order to tackle mental health-related inactivity.
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Jo Bibby @jobibby.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Want to understand what has been happening to working age mental health? Read @healthfoundation.bsky.social analysis below. Across multiple data sources, rates have nearly doubled in 10 years for the 16-34 age group. Lower qualifications associated with ⬆️ rates www.health.org.uk/reports-and-...
health.org.uk
Mental health trends among working-age people
With the mental health of working-age people appearing to be getting worse, we look more closely at what the trends are telling us.
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Christopher Rocks @christopher-rocks.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Good to see this - it reflects one of seven recommendations from the @healthfoundation.bsky.social's Commission for #HealthierWorkingLives. The government must move beyond short-term fixes and invest in long-term support for work and health. More in the Commission’s final report:
health.org.uk
Action for healthier working lives
The Commission for Healthier Working Lives’ final report sets out the need for a new approach to work and health, outlining seven key recommendations to lay the foundation for long-term change.
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The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
📣 NEW: Final report by our Commission for #HealthierWorkingLives. The Commissioners say government and employers must act early when health issues arise – not wait until people have already left work ⬇️ buff.ly/EfkpBQu
buff.ly
Action for healthier working lives
The Commission for Healthier Working Lives’ final report sets out the need for a new approach to work and health, outlining seven key recommendations to lay the foundation for sustained long-term…
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Out today: The final report of the Commission for Healthier Working Lives. Ahead of the forthcoming DWP green paper, the report calls for a radical shift from late-stage intervention to early support, before poor health forces people out of work www.health.org.uk/reports-and-...
health.org.uk
Action for healthier working lives
The Commission for Healthier Working Lives’ final report sets out the need for a new approach to work and health, outlining seven key recommendations to lay the foundation for sustained long-term chan...
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Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 06/03/2025
Speaking at our event Anita Charlesworth says key to stemming health-related benefit spending is reducing flows onto benefits. This means: - keeping people attached to their employer if they experience ill-health. - make welfare system less binary (in/out of work). Bigger role of part-time work.
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Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 20/02/2025
📢 Are you or someone you know considering a career in the think tank sector? We're hosting an online webinar for those interested in the sector, aimed particularly at those from under-represented groups. Find out more and sign up here👇 buff.ly/3CYMwky
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Another excellent report from our colleagues from @employmentstudies.bsky.social It does the tricky job of unpicking international data on work outcomes for people with health conditions. It highlights - with policy discussion - that the UK has lots of room to improve.
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Tom Pollard @pollardtom.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Striking how increasing rates of poor mental health, particularly among younger people, are broadly consistent across different data sources with different methodologies (including clinical scales & use of health services), in this useful comparison from @healthfoundation.bsky.social
Charts based on the Labour Force Survey, NHS health records, the Health Survey for England, and Understanding society, all showing growing rates of poor mental health between 2008-2023, with a particularly steep rise among younger people
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Some fascinating and timely new analysis from my colleague Myriam Vriend unpicking some of the trends in mental health among people of working-age. www.health.org.uk/reports-and-...
health.org.uk
Mental health trends among working-age people
With the mental health of working-age people appearing to be getting worse, we look more closely at what the trends are telling us.
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Interesting thread looking at @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social helpful article unpicking what's going on with inactivity and the health-related benefit caseload. TLDR: health trends are mixed, and both behaviour and reporting influenced by 'push' and 'pull' of labour markets and welfare system.
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
This is a great piece of work from our friends at the Work Foundation. Aside from lots on the risk factors for leaving the labour market, it very helpfully sets out a framework for policy intervention - from healthier workplaces to better ways of managing absence and work returns ⬇️
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
I saw this clip earlier. Although I am not sure I agree that 'no one really knows what is happening', it is rare (and good!) to see a commentator talk about the problem of poor quality work (and not just indulging in benefit-bashing, or sweeping statements about NHS waiting lists)
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Sam Atwell @swjatwell.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Lots expected in today's employment white paper. One less eye-catching announcement will be a new focus on retention and inclusive work, as the Commission for Healthier Working Lives has called for. Some insights on the challenge, from our partners @employmentstudies.bsky.social ⬇️
Screenshot of a title of a report called "Exploring the interactions between job quality, industries and health" which was written by the Institute for Employment Studies for the Commission for Healthier Working Lives
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Jonny Gifford @jonnygiff.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
📢New research! Investigating the case for not just more jobs but *better quality* jobs. Our IES report for the Commission for #HealthierWorkingLives finds that poor job quality threatens the health of the UK workforce. (1/2) bit.ly/3CH4uYB @employmentstudies.bsky.social
bit.ly
Exploring the interactions between job quality, industries and health | Institute for Employment Studies (IES)
How do different aspects of job quality affect employee health? This report seeks to clarify the evidence on these areas to support the Commission for Healthier Working Lives, supported by the Health ...
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