3. How is the Welsh Government helping to reduce the barriers to employment for people with long-term, fluctuating health conditions? OAQ(5)0481(FM)

We are taking a preventative approach to removing health barriers to work through the Healthy Working Wales programme and our new all-age employability plan will strengthen our approach to supporting low-activity groups, including support for those with longer-term health condition, to access employment opportunities.

After Action for ME delivered an employment support programme for people with ME with the North Bristol NHS Trust, 72 per cent of clients achieved their employment goals. How will you ensure, therefore, that the Welsh Government, looking at the good practice very nearby across the border, will address the barriers faced by people with long-term, fluctuating conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis and ensure that these are produced co-productively in accordance with the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 requirements?

I’ve already mentioned, of course, the employability plan. I can say that, in terms of Healthy Working Wales, over 3,000 organisations employing around 460,000 people have engaged with Healthy Working Wales. It represents about 33 per cent of the working population with an investment of over £800,000 per year in the programme. We’re also supporting workplaces to tackle the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems through the Time to Change Wales organisational pledge.

I welcome your reference to mental health issues, which was what I was going to raise. One effective measure in treating mental health problems is talking therapy, which can reduce the need to prescribe medication, which would itself enhance the ability of people to enter the job market. What is the Welsh Government doing to assist with the provision of talking therapy in Wales?

We do recognise, as far as mental health is concerned, that it can’t all be pharmaceutical intervention. Counselling is important, as is, of course, exercise. Exercise is available in most of Wales, I think, in terms of it being prescribed to people. Our delivery plan, ‘Together for Mental Health’, is there, of course, to help people in Wales become more resilient and to be able to tackle poor mental well-being when it occurs. As part of that plan we look at different therapies that will help people in different and more effective ways.