Recommendation 5

HM Government · verbatim extract Accepted

This recommendation would effectively replicate the DU’s existing stakeholder engagement framework. The framework has been designed to ensure that voices across the disability sector (disabled people and their communities and organisations, charities, business leaders) are meaningfully considered throughout the development, implementation and evaluation of the DU’s work, from the earliest opportunity. The framework centres on the DU’s relationship with four major stakeholder groups: Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) Forum England - Since spring 2022, representatives from DPO Forum England have met DU officials monthly, and the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work quarterly, to discuss the Forum’s views, questions, or concerns about specific government policies and their impact on disabled people. The DU also connects the Forum to colleagues in other departments. Recent examples of this include the development of the Retained EU Law Act, DWP’s consultation on Workplace Capability Assessments, the government’s #AskDontAssume disability perceptions campaign, and DHSC’s Care And Support statutory guidance. Regional Stakeholder Network (RSN) - Each RSN Chair meets one-to-one with a DU official every six weeks. The entire Chair cohort meets the DU monthly to discuss and compare issues within their regions and to hear information to cascade to the wider RSN membership. The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work meets RSN Chairs quarterly to understand regional issues facing disabled people across England. The DU also connects RSN Chairs to colleagues in other departments. Recent examples of this include an accessibility assessment of King Charles III’s Coronation, our #AskDontAssume disability perceptions campaign, the Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), and DWP’s Autism Employment Review. The Disability Charities Consortium (DCC) - DCC organisations provide advice to Government officials on developing policy, either on an individual basis or through other fora. The DU meets senior officials from the DCC monthly, and supports the CEOs of its membership organisations to meet the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work quarterly. Disability and Access Ambassadors (DAAs) - DAAs are senior business leaders who encourage improvements in the accessibility and quality of services and facilities in their sector for disabled people. There are currently ambassadors in 19 different sectors, with one post being recruited. The group meets the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work quarterly. A recent example of how these stakeholders input into government policy development was during the Disability Action Plan consultation. Over that 12-week period, the DU held or co-hosted 25 events to which over 140 stakeholders were invited. DPO Forum England and RSN Chairs, alongside DU’s other stakeholders, were invited to attend roundtables focused on specific policy proposals within the Disability Action Plan, as well as discussion forums to discuss the plan as a whole. In addition, Ministers and officials regularly undertake visits and engage with disabled individuals and groups. Using the expertise from operational colleagues such as Work Coaches, Disability Employment Advisors and other experts on the ground, this ensures that our understanding of the issues affecting disabled people is both broad and deep. The DU regularly seeks additional opportunities to work with stakeholders - for example, the Disability Action Plan includes a commitment for the DU to create disabled people’s experience panels in specific areas to contribute views and support policy development. These panels will include stakeholders both in and beyond our strategic framework. Progress on remaining actions: