Active Care: Return to work support services

Mental health-related absences, particularly when caused by stress and anxiety, is one of the most common challenges facing UK organisations. When individuals experience difficulties that lead to sick leave, organisations often struggle to balance compassion, legal obligations, and day-to-day operations.

Fortunately, Active Care - a specialist early intervention service from HA | Wisdom Wellbeing, provides support from day one of absence to help individuals feel heard, supported and ready to return to work safely and sooner. Let’s explores Active Care in further detail, why early intervention matters, and the benefits for you and your people.

What is Active Care?

Active Care is a day one intervention service designed to support employees who are off sick due to stress and anxiety. It forms part of Wisdom Super Care from HA | Wisdom Wellbeing, which houses lots of other benefits for organisations and people, including:

• Virtual GP service

• Dedicated menopause support line

• Up to 12 structured counselling sessions and much more

How does Active Care work?

When an employer refers an employee (with consent), one of our qualified counsellors contacts the employee within around 24 hours and conducts a structured, supportive consultation (typically lasting up to 30 minutes).

During this call, the clinician explores triggers, wellbeing needs, any medication the individual may be taking, as well as barriers to returning to work. They then provide coping strategies, signposting, and treatment recommendations. A written report is shared with the organisation (upon the individua’s consent) within only with employee consent, follows within four working days.

This immediate, professional support aims to help individuals be seen to and feel understood, while guiding busy organisational leaders on next steps.

What are the benefits of early intervention in return to work?

Early intervention offers significant benefits for both individuals and organisations. It also provides an avenue for support when organisational leaders lack the time to support an individual who is off sick.

Here are just some of the many benefits:

Faster return to work rates

In 2024, we observed a high percentage of employees referred through Active Care return to work up to 30% faster, supported by therapeutic guidance

Reduced long-term absence

Prompt support can greatly reduce the likelihood of cases progressing to longterm sickness

Improved employee wellbeing

Combined with professional support, early conversations help reduce anxiety about returning to work and promote emotional stability

Enhanced organisational insight

With consent to access the report, employers can identify and address internal issues contributing to stress

May reduce turnover

Silence from an organisation during sick-leave can make an individual feel unseen. This can prompt them to seek new opportunities

Reduces legal action

Failing to support an individual on sick leave due to their mental health can go against an organisations’ duty of care, which in some cases may be grounds for legal action

The overall goal is to intervene before problems escalate, ensuring employees feel supported at a crucial time.

Why organisations can benefit from return-to-work support

For UK organisations, Active Care can provide both practical and strategic advantages for success:

Maintaining business continuity

Stress related absence can disrupt operations. With return to work support services, you can help reduce downtime.

Demonstrating duty of care

Employers show a genuine commitment to employee wellbeing, strengthening trust and organisational culture

Tackling workplace stressors

Reports can reveal organisational triggers, such as excessive workload, conflict or change processes, giving organisations a roadmap for improvement

Supporting managers

EAP linked services also provide managerial guidance, helping leaders navigate difficult conversations and support their teams effectively

What happens if an employer does not support return to work?

A lack of structured return to work support for stress and anxiety can lead to prolonged absence and potentially developing into long term sickness. If the individual does return to work sooner than is psychologically safe for them to do so, It may increase the likelihood of presenteeism or repeated absences when underlying triggers remain unaddressed.

From a day-to-day perspective, teams may face disruption due to workload redistribution and reduced staffing, which can impact overall output and service delivery.

Plus, individuals who feel unsupported during their absence may experience a decline in morale and engagement, which can negatively affect working relationships and lead to retention challenges. Early, clinical and compassionate action is therefore essential to prevent these outcomes and ensure employees feel valued and supported during their recovery.

How HA | Wisdom Wellbeing can help

HA | Wisdom Wellbeing offers a professional, structured framework to manage stress-related absences effectively. Support includes:

• Dayone clinician-led contact with employees off sick due to stress and/or anxiety

• A structured consultation exploring triggers, wellbeing needs and barriers to returning to work

• Recommendations, including coping strategies, signposting to suitable therapeutic and/or wellbeing support

• A written report for employers upon consent from the individual

• Ongoing employer guidance to help address concerns and workplace issues as they arise

By offering timely, compassionate intervention, HA | Wisdom Wellbeing improves outcomes for employees and helps organisations maintain a healthy, resilient workforce.

Contact us today to find out more about Active Care and how our Wisdom Super Care EAP can support your organisation with a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.