Case Study

All change for Sandra

10 Oct 2025

Ingeus delivers Able Futures in partnership with a network of organisations, as part of the government’s Access to Work Mental Health Support Service across England, Scotland and Wales. The service provides tailored mental health support and guidance to working individuals, employers, and apprenticeship providers, helping them foster healthier, more resilient workplaces.

After seven years in her role at the council, Sandra found herself struggling when sudden team changes disrupted her routine. The shift in responsibilities and tensions with colleagues began to take a toll on her mental health. Once known for her cheerful and bubbly personality, Sandra became tearful and irritable and was at risk of needing time off work due to stress and anxiety. 

“I was moved to a new team at short notice, followed by the announcement of a restructure – it was a double blow for me,” recalls Sandra, who is 62. “I have a past diagnosis of PTSD and had time off from my job a couple of years ago. The sudden team changes brought back all my feelings of doom and gloom.  

Sandra’s role involves helping people access council services, something she’s passionate about but the upheaval left her overwhelmed. Concerned colleagues and family members noticed the change in her behaviour, prompting Sandra to seek help.

“I love my job, meeting and greeting people, helping them access council services, but there was just so much going on. It was a real culture shock, and I was heading to a very bad place again. My manager gave me the phone number for Able Futures and explained I could self-refer to get some confidential support.” 

Able Futures offers nine months of free, fast-access support for people dealing with common mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. Sandra connected with her mental health coach, Kelly, and although the first few sessions were emotional, things gradually began to improve. 

“Kelly comes from the same part of the county as me and had her own experience of a council restructure so there was an immediate bond,” continues Sandra, who completed her Able Futures sessions in August 2025. “She quickly assured me that my feelings were perfectly normal and gave me tips and tools to focus on the day’s positives, rather than the negatives. The first task was to not take work home in my head. At the end of the day, Kelly said to listen to music on my drive home. I soon found myself singing along – it was the start of me changing, this time for the better.  

Over the course of nine months, Sandra and Kelly spoke monthly, building a consistent and supportive relationship.

“Kelly was very consistent in her advice and gave me realistic goals and things to try. We spoke for an hour, every month, for nine months. A few sessions in she said: ‘I can hear the change in your voice’. I could tell I was becoming me again.” 

With Kelly’s guidance, Sandra began to reframe her perspective and find positives in the midst of workplace change.

“I began to accept that change at work affected everyone, it wasn’t personal to me,” Sandra concludes. “I learnt to accept what I couldn’t change and to go with the flow – something I’d not been good at before. Most of all, I rediscovered my hobbies after Kelly encouraged me to take more time for myself. I was an avid swimmer in the past and have started going again regularly with friends. I’m also back into horse riding after a 25 year break! Signing up for the gym is next on my list. 

“Kelly was a godsend for me. Able Futures really works, and because of them so do I! I continued working throughout all the team changes and would undoubtedly have been signed off sick without Able Futures’ help. I’m so glad my manager gave me their number; all it took was a phone call.”