We welcome the government’s new £338 million investment in Connect to Work, which aims to provide tailored, localised support for over 85,000 people facing health-related barriers to employment. Expanding access to personalised coaching, job matching, and employer engagement is a positive step towards inclusion and improved mental health outcomes.

However, while the announcement focuses on getting more people “into work,” it offers little assurance that these roles will be secure, accessible, or psychologically safe. Employment can play a vital role in supporting recovery, but poor-quality, precarious jobs risk worsening mental health and undermining financial stability. Without attention to workplace culture, training for employers, and ongoing support, individuals may be placed in roles that harm rather than help their wellbeing.

Our members – mental health providers delivering care and support across England and Wales – have consistently shown that meaningful work opportunities, combined with personalised mental health support, are key to long-term recovery and independence. Our research also highlights that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to employment for people with mental ill health. We hope Connect to Work will embed these insights as the programme rolls out nationally, working closely with voluntary sector providers to achieve real change.

Dania Hanif, Interim Chief Executive of the Association of Mental Health Providers, says:

“The government’s ambition to help people overcome barriers to work is welcome, but its success will depend on the quality, not just the quantity, of employment opportunities. Without secure jobs, supportive workplaces, and investment in mental health services, Connect to Work risks pushing people into roles that could harm rather than help their wellbeing.”