Event Details Presenter;Yvonne Baird Presenter Contact Details : Date;6 February 2013

2 Department for Work & Pensions Access to Work Access to Work was introduced in June 1994 Is a National Programme delivered by Department for Work and Pensions To help overcome barriers that disabled people come across when moving onto or retaining employment. Provides a grant to cover additional costs over and above the requirements of making “reasonable adjustments” which an employer is legally obliged to provide under the “Equality Act 2010” A flexible programme that focuses on the needs of the individual.

3 Department for Work & Pensions Benefits of Access to Work Encourages greater independence Promotes work as being the best route to inclusion for disabled people Enables disabled people to work on a more equal basis with non disabled colleagues Encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people by offering practical help. Provides advice to disabled people and their employers

4 Department for Work & Pensions April 2012 to September ,890 individuals were helped through Access to Work 18,930 were existing customers 4,960 were new customers

5 Department for Work & Pensions Social return on Investment “For every £1 spent on AtW the Exchequer recoups £1.48 and the social return on the investment, which includes savings such as healthcare costs, is even higher” SOURCE: “Getting in, staying in and getting on: Disability employment support fit for the future"

6 Department for Work & Pensions Customers helped by Access to Work April 12 – June 12 Arms, Hands, Legs, feet, Back or Neck 4,780 Stomach, Liver, Kidney or digestion 70 Heart, Blood, Blood Pressure or circulation 190 Chest or Breathing 100 Progressive Illness 1,550 Difficulty in Hearing / Speaking 4,400 Difficulty in Seeing 4,090 Learning Disability 1,330 Dyslexia 2,410 Epilepsy 890 Diabetes 130 Spina Bifida 90 Mental Health Condition 640 Cerebral Palsy 380 Total 23,890

7 Department for Work & Pensions Eligibility Types Of Help

8 Department for Work & Pensions Eligibility Criteria Have a disability or health condition that has a long term, adverse affect on their ability to carry out their job Be over 16 years old Be in, or about to start, paid employment (including self employment) Live and work in Great Britain Not be claiming Incapacity Benefit or ESA once they are in work (with the exception of higher permitted work)

9 Department for Work & Pensions Permitted Work Customers on Permitted Work Higher Level and Supported Permitted Work and Permitted Work PCA Exempt are eligible for Access to Work. Support will be limited to a maximum of 52 weeks in line with Permitted Work Higher Level time limit. After a 52 week break, customers can re apply for Access to Work support for a further 52 weeks. Customers on Permitted Work Lower Level are not eligible.

10 Department for Work & Pensions Types Of Help There are seven main elements within Access to Work: Special Aids and Equipment (SAE) Adaptations to Premises and equipment (APE) Travel to Work (TtW) Travel in Work (TiW) Support Worker (SW) Communication Support at Interview (CSI) Mental Health Support Service (MHSS)

11 Department for Work & Pensions Mental Health Support Service Support is available for people with mental health conditions who are either: Going into work Absent from work as a result of a mental health condition Finding work difficult as a result of a mental health condition The support available from Access to Work includes: An assessment of needs A personalised six month support plan, with detailed steps designed to keep a person in, or help them to return to work Signposting to relevant intervention and support services This service is provided for Access to Work by Remploy

12 Department for Work & Pensions Examples of Mental Health Support Coping strategies This could cover a range of strategies and will depend on the individual’s job role, their condition and how this impacts their work. For example: Keeping a mood diary Using memory aids such as Mind Maps, checklists Relaxation techniques when under pressure Developing a Wellbeing Recovery Action Plan Cognitive Behavioural techniques Reasonable adjustments Development of Flexible working, phased return, etc. Putting in place a buddy or mentor Temporary reduction in targets or reallocation Additional time to complete certain aspects of job role Regular formalised 121 meetings to review concerns

13 Department for Work & Pensions Access to Work for Work Experience under the Youth Contract Available from 1 October 2012 For customers aged 16 to 24 Years Resident in Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales) All AtW Youth Contract Work Experience applications will be centralised All AtW Youth Contract Work Experience applications must be made via a Jobcentre Plus Adviser

14 Department for Work & Pensions Apprenticeships People serving apprenticeships are eligible for AtW support as they receive a wage and have a contract of employment. National Minimum Wage rates do not apply to people on apprenticeships. If the apprentice stays with the same employer when qualified, cost sharing status will remain unchanged for the whole of the AtW period of three years from the beginning of the apprenticeship.

15 Department for Work & Pensions Work Programme / Work Choice Restrictions Customers on the Work Programme cannot access: Job Aide / Job Coaches Counsellors Travel Buddy Communication Support at Interview Mental Health Support Service for customers who have Mental Health issues at the point of referral to Work Programme or Work Choice.

16 Department for Work & Pensions Mental Health Support Service for Work Programme / Work Choice Mental Health Support Service for customers entering employment: If the customer’s Mental Health issues were part of the reason for referral to Work Programme or Work Choice then it would be reasonable to expect the provider to continue to support the customer in continuing to overcome this potential barrier. If the customer had no recent history of Mental Health when they started Work Programme or Work Choice then any problems that developed when they are in work can be addressed through the ATW contracted support.

17 Department for Work & Pensions Access to Work availability whilst on Work Choice / Work Programme ElementCategoryAvailable Communication Support at InterviewNo Travel To WorkYes Support WorkersBSL InterpreterYes CarerYes Personal ReaderYes DriverYes PalantypistYes Lip SpeakerYes Note TakerYes Job Aide / Job Coach No CounsellorNo Travel BuddyNo Adaptations to Premises & EquipmentYes Specials Aids & EquipmentYes Miscellaneous including Travel in WorkYes

18 Department for Work & Pensions Cost Sharing Financial Support

19 Department for Work & Pensions Access to Work Grants The level of grant will depend on: Whether the applicant is employed or self employed How long they have been in their job The type of help required The size of company they work for Access to Work provides the grant with which to procure the support that is needed, it does not provide the support itself.

20 Department for Work & Pensions Cost Sharing 0 – 49 attract no cost share 50 – £500 Threshold and 20% of the costs thereafter Over £1000 Threshold and 20% of the costs thereafter Costs above £10,000 will normally be met by Access to Work If there is a general business benefit a contribution will be sought in addition to any compulsory cost share

21 Department for Work & Pensions Who can “Access to Work” support? Claimants moving into employment Claimants undertaking certain types of Permitted Work Claimants about to start the mentoring phase of New Enterprise Allowance Claimants commencing a Work Trial Claimants about to start work experience under the Job Centre Youth Contract Claimants taking part in Work Programme and Work Choice

22 Department for Work & Pensions How you can help us Raise awareness with all Jobcentre Plus Staff Increase work opportunities for disabled people Embed Access to Work as part of the Advisers Toolkit Raise the profile of Access to Work internally and externally Work jointly with Access to Work to increase applications and Jobcentre Plus off flows

23 Department for Work & Pensions Case Studies

24 Department for Work & Pensions How to Apply Contact Details

25 Department for Work & Pensions How to Apply Disabled employee makes the application Telephone applications - Alternative arrangements can be made. The Customer Service Team will check eligibility. The form is then sent to the applicant for them to check, sign and return. Once received, the application becomes active and is allocated to an Access to Work Adviser who will progress the application.

26 Department for Work & Pensions Access to Work Customer Journey ` First Contact Team takes call from customer and checks eligibility and takes application if appropriate. Payment authorised Application allocated to AtW adviser by Allocation Team Signed application received from customer Claim/invoice received by Payment Team Adviser confirms eligibility and begins evaluation process with customer/employer. Considers further l assessment. Liaises with customer and employer Referral made to JCP Prime contractors Adviser produces a Business case for approval from information received Case approved and confirmation letters sent AtW Adviser receives case from Allocation Team Employer/ Customer purchases support and submits claim and invoices for reimbursement.

27 Department for Work & Pensions Further Information Further information about Access to Work can be found on the internet at Access to Work Factsheet Employer’s Guide to Access to Work You can contact the Customer Service Team with any questions on: Telephone: Textphone: This presentation is intended to be a general guide to the principles underpinning the Access to Work programme and is not a full and authoritative statement of the law