Scheme failing to help disabled people at work

The government’s Access to Work scheme is failing to meet
the needs of disabled people, new research has revealed.

The scheme, run by the Department for Work and Pensions,
provides support for disabled people to help them into the
workforce and keep their job.

But the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has found that although
Access to Work has helped some people in work, many reported
problems with the scheme. These include delays in assessing need
and providing appropriate services, lack of knowledge about
impairments and difficulties in establishing funding
partnerships.

The report says there is “still a long way to go in
understanding and responding systematically to disabled
workers’ needs”.

It recommends that Jobcentre Plus should be better informed
about disabled workers’ needs, consistent in service
provision, and more responsive and flexible.

• Thriving and Surviving at Work: Disabled People’s
Employment Strategies from www.jrf.org.uk