Top government officials
visit Horizon House
Lord Hunt, Minister for Health, Work and Well-being and Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work, visited Horizon House on the morning of Wednesday 5 September 2006. They were interested in finding out:
- How employers can make accommodations so that they get the best from employees with mental health problems.
- How people with mental health problems make decisions about work, managing their mental health and keeping their financial security through earnings and benefits.
- How services can be better organized to support service users' good health and work.
Three supervisors from Marks and Spencer and GAP Clothing (companies that partner with Horizon House to offer Transitional Employment Placements for members) and six members who have made different decision about how much to work met with Lord Hunt and Dame Carol for a focused discussion of the first two issues described above.
Following this, the visitors were given a description of how Horizon House works. The visit wrapped up with a discussion with a group that included Stephen Firn (Oxleas' chief executive), Geraldine Strathdee (medical director for Oxleas in Bromley), Fabian Davis (lead for social inclusion in Bromley) and Horizon House staff and members.
The visitors used Horizon House as the location for the launch of a national review that looks at links between work and health and well-being. Horizon House was chosen for the launch as it is an excellent example of people being supported to enter, return and continue in work. You can see the press releases for the visit below.
Lord Hunt's choice of Horizon House was based on a recommendation that came from a previous group of visitors, a team from HM Treasury who came to Bromley on August 23. They met at Marks and Spencer with a large group of working members and supervisors for a similar discussion that really impressed the team and led to the recommendation about Horizon House to Lord Hunt.
We'll be keeping in touch with all these important government officials to let them know more about our experiences of success in employment!
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