Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Acknowledged
Inconsistent application of DWP policies like sanctions exacerbates claimant vulnerabilities and hardship.
Conclusion
Incorrectly applied, policies intended to drive claimant behaviour and deliver value for money, such as sanctions and deductions, can create and exacerbate vulnerabilities. While DWP has checks in place that are supposed to ensure this doesn’t happen, the application of these checks is inconsistent. This can leave claimants facing substantial hardship, putting them at risk of harm. (Conclusion, Paragraph 110)
Government Response Summary
The Coaching Academy will aim to professionalise employment support through accredited training and provide platforms to capture structured frontline feedback, which will inform continuous improvement in training and delivery of service.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government agrees that colleague surveys are a valuable tool for understanding staff views on capability and confidence. The Coaching Academy will aim to professionalise employment support through accredited training in areas such as safeguarding, trauma-informed practice. Alongside this, it will provide platforms to capture structured frontline feedback through systems, surveys, reflective practice, and peer learning. This feedback will inform continuous improvement in training and delivery of service, whilst offering valuable insights into safeguarding culture, workload, and the use of discretion. The Department will consider how best to use surveys, including the Annual People Survey, to support the development and assessment of the Safeguarding Approach and ensure that staff voices help shape both policy and service delivery through ongoing feedback cycles.