Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Paragraph: 73
We welcome the fact that the Department has increased the number of Disability Employment Advisers...
Conclusion
We welcome the fact that the Department has increased the number of Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) in Jobcentres. DEAs can provide specialist support to disabled people in a way that generalist Work Coaches do not, and the increase in numbers will go some way to addressing the fall in the number of DEAs during the pandemic. It is vital that all Jobcentre Plus staff, however, have a good understanding of disability, including specific conditions, and how best to support disabled people. DWP should keep the number of DEAs under review and commit to recruiting additional DEAs if demand rises. It should also ensure that any training that Jobcentre Plus staff receive on supporting disabled people is not just generic but covers the needs of specific impairment groups, including people with invisible disabilities.
Paragraph Reference:
73
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
This year we are spending £5 million on Access to Work to commence delivery of a fully digital customer service that is innovative, visible and provides an improved customer experience. 16 Disability employment gap: Government response The digital improvements will speed up the payment process, reduce the customer journey time and enable customers to better navigate GOV.UK by redesigning pages and improving signposting from other government services. Access to Work will retain the helpline number so that where someone experiences difficulties with the application, or finds it difficult due to low digital literacy, the Access to Work agent can support them through this over the telephone. We are also working with our Digital teams on how we may improve the accessibility of the digital process such as looking at BSL videos to help explain the process.