How Maximus is supporting better mental health in social care
23 May 2025
5 min read
In this #GoodNewsFriday, we hear about how Maximus is helping to improve mental health amongst social care staff.
Through the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Access to Work scheme, Maximus is offering free, confidential support to help people in the care sector manage their mental health and stay in work.
Maximus is a provider of employment, health and disability services who have been delivering Access to Work assessments since 2011. They have helped over 45,000 employees with a mental health condition to stay in or return to work, and recently, they’ve been working with Skills for Care to promote these assessments to social care staff.
For social care workers, this kind of support can be life changing. Unlike traditional counselling or employee assistance programmes, Access to Work is vocational, meaning it focuses on practical, personalised strategies to manage mental health in the workplace.
Each participant receives nine months of tailored support from a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychologist, counsellor or occupational therapist, who acts as their coach throughout the programme. Monthly one-to-one sessions (by phone or video call) help staff develop strategies to manage symptoms and tackle challenges.
Whether it’s anxiety, low mood, difficulty sleeping, or feeling overwhelmed, the support plan is shaped around the person’s role and symptoms and will evolve each month to reflect what’s working and what’s not.
The programme is accessible, with no waiting list and most people are seen within 48 hours to one week of referral. It’s open to anyone in employment, including care staff on zero-hours contracts, apprentices, self-employed people and those currently signed off sick.
Social care is a challenging job and staff wellbeing is more important than ever due to the increasing demand for services. So far, Maximum has received 31 referrals through their work with Skills for Care, meaning that 31 members of the care workforce have received the support they need.
Clive Thomas, Partnership Lead at Maximus, said:
I've been working with Skills for Care for over five months to raise awareness of mental health wellbeing. To date, we've seen 31 referrals come into the service looking for extra support, which is fantastic! But the work has only just begun. For everyone who has used the service, there are probably two or three others wondering whether they should.
I would dearly love to make this service more visible . We're approaching the time of year when many people are taking their first real holidays, and while it's a joyful time for some, it can also evoke triggers like financial pressure, family conflict, poor memories of past holidays, unhealthy changes in routine, and unrealistic expectations.
I want to help this sector more than most because I see the real value in how you support those in our communities who are more vulnerable. This free resource can make a real difference.
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