Scope responds to report into Work Programme
22 February 2013
Commenting on the Public Accounts Committee report into the Work Programme, Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the disability charity Scope, said:
“The Public Accounts Committee is right, the Work Programme is failing to support disabled people into work.
“Scope's analysis of the figures show that only 1.3% of ESA claimants – who are the hardest to reach - are getting a job through the scheme.
“It has been suggested that DWP just got their initial targets wrong. But the Committee has confirmed that the problem goes deeper than that: the financial structure isn’t working.
“The Government's intention with the scheme is right: they want to support individuals back to work in a tailored, flexible way. But the Work Programme just isn't delivering this.
“Disabled people need specialist support but they're not getting it.
"We know disabled people want to work but face multiple barriers such as a lack of skills and experience, confidence and even negative attitudes from some employers.
“But the numbers just don’t add up for providers to invest in providing that support.
“The Government should see the programme’s disappointing results as an opportunity to take a wider look at how we support disabled people into work.
“Rather than punishing people with sanctions, let's reward the progress they've made. Instead of placing the blame only on disabled people, let’s also look at how we can give businesses more confidence to employ disabled people.
“We shouldn’t just focus on things like writing CVs and cover letters, but look at all the other support needs disabled people have.”
Notes to the Editor:
Scope’s written evidence on the Work Programme to the Work and Pensions Committee:
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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