1. 1 Department for Work and Pensions Disability Confident – Increasing Employment for Disabled Young People Presentation by Stephen Lismore, Head of Employer Engagement, Disability and Work Operations Division, Department for Work and Pensions

2. 2 Department for Work and Pensions Disability Confident-the Context The Government is committed to halving the gap between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people. Employers have a crucial role to play in this – apart from self-employment, disabled people can only be in employment if employers are willing to employ them. Disability Confident was launched by the Prime Minister in July 2013 to challenge negative attitudes to disability and disability employment and to help disabled people achieve their potential. Disability Confident is about creating a movement for change - getting employers to think differently about disability and to take action to improve how they attract, recruit and retain disabled workers. This involves business talking to business, with disability confident employers sharing their evidence and experiences with other employers. More likely to be effective than Government talking to business.

3. 3 Department for Work and Pensions

4. 4 Next Steps for Disability Confident Disability Confident now focused particularly on engaging smaller businesses. To support this we have developed a facility for employers to register their interest and to receive a call back from JCP if they are interested in employing/retaining a disabled person (https://www.gov.uk/disability-confident). More than 300 employers registered so far, numbers steadily growing.https://www.gov.uk/disability-confident Also developing a full Disability Confident self-assessment scheme. Employers can receive advice/guidance to help them improve their Disability Confidence, can assess their Disability Confident commitments and performance and can receive recognition of their achievements. Minister convened a Task Group of representatives of employers and disabled people to steer development of this scheme, ensuring it is rigorous, commands the confidence of disabled people but is also accessible to employers, especially SMEs. Task Group presented a draft scheme to the Minister in March, which he welcomed. Will be aiming to launch the scheme later this year. Potential NATSPEC/Colleges Partnership Activity-Registering, encouraging others to register, helping with testing of self-assessment scheme, early sign up to scheme.

5. 5 Department for Work and Pensions MP-Led Local Disability Confident Events In first two years of Disability Confident held a series of large national events- building general awareness and developing a network of large national employer partners Now focusing on smaller, local events, led by a local MP, taking account of needs of local labour markets. Generally following a “Reverse Jobs Fair” model in which schools, colleges, disabled organisations organise stalls and local employers come in to discuss their employment needs and offers 16 events held since May 2015, with over 600 attendees 11 events currently being arranged, 42 more at initial discussion stage Employers asked to complete pledges, offering clear employment related outcomes for disabled people, such as jobs, apprenticeships, work experience Potential NATSPEC/Colleges Partnership Activity- Attending or hosting an event, encouraging employers to attend

6. 6 Department for Work and Pensions Disability Confident Communications Campaign Continuing to deliver a high profile campaign, using different media and special events to reach as many employers as possible. Some examples: delivering a Disability Confident e-Newsletter, sharing stories and case studies, to employers who have registered on GOV.UK or are campaign partners. February newsletter reached nearly 400 employers recently passed the 1,100 mark with followers to LinkedIn Showcase page, helped by recent promoted LinkedIn posts, including Richard Branson and David BurdusLinkedIn Showcase page delivered a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style event in conjunction with Kaleidoscope, attended by over 25 disabled entrepreneurs, in addition to the ones pitching to the panel of high profile business people and the Minister. Promoted a guide for disabled entrepreneurs through online channels, mainstream media and social media Potential NATSPEC/Colleges Partnership Activity- Follow e-Newsletter and LinkedIn page, become a Disability Confident campaign partner. To find out more email: dwp.disabilityconfident@dwp.gsi.gov.uk. –

7. 7 Department for Work and Pensions Access to Work Access to Work provides support with additional costs faced by individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job, over and above that which is a reasonable adjustment Support tailored to individual’s needs. Can include travel to work, support workers and specialist aids and equipment. Amount of financial help depends on individual needs and circumstances up to maximum of £40,800 per year Access to Work supported 36,760 disabled people to take up or remain in employment during 2014/15 (up from 35,560 in 2013/14) Spending Review confirmed real term increase in spending, to enable Access to Work to benefit more people. Scheme remains demand led but as continue to expand employment opportunities for disabled people, expected increases in demand of around 25,000 extra customers Access to Work Mental Health Support Service delivered by Remploy Employment Services. Service supports those experiencing depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues affecting their work. Supported 1,630 people with a mental health condition in 2014/15-with capacity for number to grow Potential NATSPEC/Colleges Partnership Activity- Promote Access to Work with employers and disabled young people.

8. 8 Department for Work and Pensions Small Employer Offer Delivering a pilot Small Employer Offer in three pathfinder areas (Swindon, Swansea and Bournemouth) to test which approaches work best in encouraging SMEs to recruit and retain disabled people. Includes: –Support to develop appropriate job spec –Signposting to external support and mentoring –Access to Work fast-track –Possible small cash payment to cover extra mentoring/support costs Will be monitoring and evaluating to determine which elements of the offer best encourage small employers to engage. Early days but achieving some success in reaching small employers not previously engaged and securing work experience. Feedback so far suggests most valued aspect of the offer is intensive and continuing contact by JCP staff Potential NATSPEC/Colleges Partnership Activity- Collegess in the pathfinder areas getting involved.

9. 9 Department for Work and Pensions Improving DWP Focus on Employers Jobcentre Plus staff deal with thousands of employers every year. Recognition that many JCP staff lacked knowledge and confidence in talking about disabled employment, so not able to speak confidently to employers In response launched new learning programme for JCP staff, providing master classes with employers, learning products, case studies, material to take and share with employers, and material to support local initiatives. Programme will grow and develop over coming year, with continuing focus on local partnerships More broadly, Minister for Employment driving a new Employer Strategy, including improving employer insight, developing better collaboration, developing sectoral approaches and strategies and developing single points of contact Potential NATSPEC/Colleges Partnership Activity- Supporting JCP learning programme with classes, case studies, learning material. Testing the emerging Employer Strategy, including helping reach those employers we find hard to reach

10. 10 Department for Work and Pensions Next Steps-Working Together Government cannot halve the disability employment gap on its own. Requires partnership between Government and employers, between employers and other employers, between Government and colleges and between colleges and employers So encourage everyone in the audience to join in with this partnership. In particular: register on the Gov.Uk site, share with your employer networks and encourage them to register host or attend a local Disability Confident event, encourage your employer networks to attend and make a pledge, become a Disability Confident campaign partner contribute your own stories and case studies of success make sure employers know about Access to Work be an early adopter of the Disability Confident self assessment scheme Help develop the new employer strategy Give us your own ideas!