Could a good job be the best medicine?

We think about being able to see a GP, getting a hospital appointment or receiving the right treatment and support when we are unwell. All of that matters enormously.

But the longer I have worked in healthcare, the more I have come to appreciate how much of our health is shaped long before we need a doctor, nurse or hospital appointment.

It is shaped by the lives we lead every day.

Having somewhere safe to live matters. Education matters. The relationships and connections we have with other people matter. Feeling part of a community matters.

And work matters too.

A good job can bring financial security, but its value goes well beyond a payslip. Work can give us purpose, routine, friendships and a sense of contribution. It can help us learn new skills, build confidence and see possibilities for our future.

That is why I believe good jobs are good for health.

As one of the largest employers in Torbay and South Devon, this matters to us in two ways. We have a responsibility to the thousands of people who already work with us, and we have an opportunity to help more local people find their way into worthwhile careers.

I do not say that because I think we are a perfect employer. We are not.

There are also times when being an employer means making decisions that people understandably find difficult.

Many colleagues have built rewarding careers with us and felt supported through some of the most challenging moments in their lives. Others have had experiences that have been difficult or disappointing. There are times when we have not supported people as well as we should and we still have much to learn.

Being a good employer does not mean avoiding difficult decisions. Sometimes we have to make changes that affect individuals, teams and services. What matters is that we are honest about the challenges we face, listen properly and treat people with care and respect.

Our organisational strategy talks about creating caring, skilled people ready for tomorrow. For me, that is not simply about filling vacancies. It is about creating opportunities for people to learn, develop and build rewarding careers.

Aspire is one example that has stayed with me.

Aspire is a supported internship run by South Devon College which we have been involved with for more than ten years. It gives young people with learning disabilities the opportunity to combine classroom learning with placements across our organisation, helping them develop the skills and confidence needed for employment.

Earlier this summer I joined this year’s Aspire students to celebrate what they had achieved. Five of the six were moving directly into paid work, but it was not only that outcome that struck me.

One student spoke about having developed the confidence to travel independently by bus. Others talked about becoming more confident, learning to ask questions and feeling part of a working team.

Employment can bring greater financial independence, but it can also change how someone sees themselves and what they believe they are capable of. It can bring new relationships, a sense of belonging and greater control over your own life.

That is what opportunity can do.

Aspire is only one example. Through our partnership with South Devon College, people can access work placements, T Levels and apprenticeships that help them gain experience, earn while they learn and develop new skills.

We also work with The Open University to offer a route into nursing that allows students to complete their studies and placements locally. For people with caring responsibilities, financial commitments or deep roots in our communities, being able to train close to home can make all the difference.

These partnerships help us develop the caring and skilled people we will need for tomorrow. More importantly, they give local people opportunities to learn, develop and build their future here.

None of this can be achieved by a single organisation.

Our education partners, local authorities, healthcare providers and voluntary sector organisations all have a role to play. Partners such as Torbay Communities and Teignbridge CVS bring knowledge, relationships and trust that are deeply rooted in the communities they serve.

That matters because people’s lives do not divide neatly into separate issues.

Poor health can make it harder to find or keep a job. Insecure work or unemployment can affect someone’s health and wellbeing. Housing, education, transport and caring responsibilities can all influence the choices available to someone.

A person does not experience these things as a housing issue, an education issue, an employment issue and a health issue. They experience them as their life.

No health service, employer, college, council or community organisation can address all of that alone. We achieve more when we work together around the person, rather than expecting the person to find their way through a series of disconnected organisations.

There is still much more for us to do. We need to make opportunities easier to access, reach people who may not currently see a health or care career as somewhere they could belong, and continue improving what it feels like to work with us.

None of this is separate from our responsibility to provide good care.

When local people can access secure and meaningful employment, individuals, families and communities benefit. When organisations work together to widen opportunity, we can begin to address some of the inequalities that affect health throughout people’s lives.

Healthcare will always be there to care for people when they are unwell. But if we are serious about helping people live healthier lives, we must also pay attention to the opportunities available to them before they need us.

A qualification can change someone’s direction. An apprenticeship can create confidence as well as skills. A first job can open the door to a career. A supportive workplace can help someone through a difficult period in their life.

Sometimes better health begins with a safe home, a trusted relationship or the right support at the right time.

Sometimes it begins with somebody seeing potential in you.

And sometimes it begins with a good job.