1. Access To Work Presentation by: STEPHEN ROE1
Access To Work
Presentation by: STEPHEN ROE
DWP – National Access to Work Team

2. 4
Access to Work
Provides support and advice to overcome work-related issues resulting from disability
Enables disabled people to work on a more
equal basis with their non disabled colleagues.
Encourages employers to recruit and retain
disabled people by offering practical and financial help.
We offer advice to individuals and employers but all applications must be made by the person themselves unless they are unable to do so because of their disability.
The support we offer can remove some of the barriers a person with a disability can face.
Access to Work

3. Advantages to Employers5
Advantages to Employers
Encourages disabled people to apply to work with
you and creating a more diverse workforce
Visibly demonstrates good employment policies
and practices
Good disability employment practices
sends a powerful message to all employees that
your organisation values it’s people.
People are an important asset and it makes sense
to have the widest possible choice
Retaining an employee who develops a disability
means keeping the person’s valuable skills
We involve employers as early as possible after a customer makes an application. We will always need to talk to an employer as they do have responsibilities; the only exception is where there is no requirement for the support to be used on the employers premises; or
the employer is not required to confirm details of support received on the claim forms.
Once we have a customers permission to contact the employer we make contact to discuss their role in the process and we send an employer leaflet which will serve as a reminder for them.
Access to Work

4. ADDITIONALITY STANDARD REASONABLE8
ADDITIONALITY
STANDARD
REASONABLE
This is quite a widely applied for element and can include things such as specialist software for example Voice Activated Software.
Access to Work

5. WHO CAN ACCESS TO WORK SUPPORT?8
WHO CAN ACCESS TO WORK SUPPORT?
This is quite a widely applied for element and can include things such as specialist software for example Voice Activated Software.
Access to Work

6. Alison was successful in securing a job as Human Resource Assistant 18
Example
Alison was successful in securing a job
as Human Resource Assistant
Registered Blind – Could not read information
on her computer monitor and written text.
Using public transport also a problem as catching
a bus meant crossing busy roads and city streets
She contacted Access to Work for help
Access to Work funded an in work assessment
which recommended specialist software and a CCTV
Access to Work also provided funding for a taxi to get
her to and from work.
Next two slides show two simple case studies.
Access to Work

7. Types of Help There are six main types of help:8
Types of Help
There are six main types of help:
Communication Support at Interview (CSI)
Special Aids and Equipment (SAE)
Adaptations to Premises and Equipment (APE)
Travel to Work (TTW)
Travel in Work (TiW)
Support Worker (SW)
This is quite a widely applied for element and can include things such as specialist software for example Voice Activated Software.
Access to Work

8. October 2010 15
Access to Work Grants
Access to Work will pay grants of up to 100% of approved support costs for:
Unemployed people starting a job;
All self-employed people;
People who have been working for less than 6
weeks when they first apply for AtW.
This is self explanatory. The reason we say up to 100% is because there could be a business benefit attached to some items so we would only meet a percentage of the cost.
Access to Work

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Employed People
Defined as Customers who have been in their job for more than 6 weeks;
Employer Cost Share applies to grants towards Special Aids and Equipments (SAE) & Adaptations to Premises & Equipment (APE);
The next two slides are pretty self explanatory.
Access to Work

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Cost Sharing
When cost sharing applies Access to Work will pay up to 80% of the approved costs above a statutory threshold.
The amount of the threshold is determined by the number of employees employed by the organisation the customer is working for.
no cost share
£300
£500
Over £1000
The employer is usually the cost sharer. Unfortunately, if an employer refuses to take on the cost sharing we cannot proceed with the application unless someone else can be found to take on this portion of the cost.
Access to Work

11. Customers contact by telephone on 020 8426 3110. 17
Making an application
Customers contact by telephone on
Application completed and posted to home address.
The customer checks, amends if necessary, signs and returns application.
The application is allocated to an Adviser who will contact the customer usually within 24 hours.
The Adviser will then contact the Employer.
This is the standard method for making an application. As already stated there will be some operation changes within the coming months but calls will be re-directed if necessary. For customers unable to use the telephone because of their disability, for example if they are Deaf, we can make alternative arrangements. Customers can
Access to Work

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Making an application
If necessary the Adviser will refer a customer to an independent assessor.
The Adviser is responsible for gathering all relevant facts and deciding on the support that can be recommended for approval.
A decision can be reconsidered and reviewed if new information is made available.
Adviser will open a three way dialogue with the customer and their employer. Assessors are used to assist the Adviser with the decision making process.
Once the Adviser prepares the business case it is passed for approval.
Employers are usually responsible for arranging for items to be purchased or training to be booked; they will be required to pay for the items and claim reimbursement from AtW – original receipts/invoices are required.
All applications are subject to a full review annually.
Access to Work

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Access To Work
Any Questions?