MPs find Work Programme is failing
21 May 2013
As MPs on the Work and Pensions Select Committee find that the Work Programme is failing the most disadvantaged jobseekers, Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the disability charity Scope, said:
“The Work and Pensions Select Committee is right, the Work Programme is currently not working for disabled people.
“It is absurd that disabled people who face the biggest barriers to employment are receiving the least amount of support. No wonder so few disabled people are actually finding jobs through the Work Programme.
“Disabled people want to work but they face multiple barriers such as a lack of skills and experience, confidence and even negative attitudes from some employers.
“If the Government is serious about disabled people moving off benefits and into work it needs to ensure disabled people get the specialist, tailored and flexible support they need.”
Notes to the Editor:
Scope’s written evidence on the Work Programme to the Work and Pensions Committee
Scope's analysis of the figures show that for ESA claimants, who typically require a higher level of support, only 1.3% of participants achieved a job outcome—1,070 outcomes from a total of 78,640 referrals. For ESA claimants who were previously on Incapacity Benefit—some of the furthest from work on the whole programme—figures from the DWP tabulation tool shows that only 30 people achieved a job outcome, an outcome rate of 0.3% for that group.
Scope’s recommendations for the Work Programme
1. A ‘Distance from Work’ test should be introduced as an extra module in the WCA so that disabled people’s actual readiness for work situations is given equal consideration to their functional limitation, and the real barriers to employment are recognised and supported.
2. The Government should implement greater links between Work Programme and other employment support schemes for disabled people by creating an ‘Employment Support Plan’, collaboratively produced by the claimant and JCP, which acts as a ‘gateway’ mechanism and provides disabled people with a roadmap for their welfare-to-work journey.
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