Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Paragraph: 51
There is evidence that localised support, which is often delivered by small, specialist providers, helps...
Conclusion
There is evidence that localised support, which is often delivered by small, specialist providers, helps disabled people get into and stay in work. All too often, however, 72 Disability employment gap disabled people are reliant on large, national programmes, or on discretionary, ad hoc support provided by Jobcentre Plus. Neither is ideal: large programmes have tended to perform badly for disabled people, and access to JCP support (for example, via the Flexible Support Fund) is, by design, not consistent. Current programmes aimed at supporting disabled people into work have not produced the desired improvements in the disability employment gap. It is time for DWP to take a new approach. We welcome the Department’s recognition, in the recently published Green Paper, that local services and providers have an important part to play, and look forward to seeing how it develops its work in this area.
Paragraph Reference:
51
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Employment Advisers in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services (EA in IAPT) support IAPT clients with depression and anxiety disorders. Our EAs work in 40 percent of clinical commissioning groups alongside therapists to support clients, who are both in work and out of work, to improve their mental health and remain in, get back to (if off sick) and find work. In 2020/21 29,000 people started employment support, in this financial year we expect around 36,000 to be supported. The Health and Care Bill is currently moving through Parliament. It includes a proposal to create Integrated Care Partnerships (ICPs) in England. ICPs will bring together the NHS, local authorities and other stakeholders to address the wider determinants of health, which include employment (although the extent to which employment will feature is yet to be agreed), Individual Placement and Support (IPS)