Review of Employment Support for Disabled

Author: Department for Work and Pensions
Published: 2011/06/09
Topic: UK Disability Employment - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: UK Government support for employment services for disabled people should be focused on the individual and not the institution.

Introduction

Getting in, staying in and getting on - RADAR Chief Executive publishes review of employment support for disabled people.

Main Item

Government support for employment services for disabled people should be focused on the individual and not the institution, so disabled people can access jobs across the economy, according to an independent report published today.

The review into employment services for disabled people by RADAR Chief Executive Liz Sayce, recommends changes to Government policy to support disabled people to work in any role in any sector - rather than in segregated employment.

The Sayce review recommends doubling the numbers of people able to use Access to Work - which gives financial help for support workers, interpreters, equipment and other practical support to enable disabled people to keep and get jobs.

It recommends raising the overall numbers securing specialist disability support to 100,000 within existing resources, with further expansion longer-term.

RADAR Chief Executive Liz Sayce said:

"The work aspirations of disabled people have changed. Again and again disabled people - especially young disabled people - said they wanted the same choice of jobs as everyone else - in every sector from hairdressing to engineering, from apprenticeships to work experience, from self employment to co-ops and employee to director.

"That is why I am recommending empowering disabled people and employers by opening up Access to Work, widening access to information and peer support and ensuring support can go with the individual, from job to job, equipping disabled people for the economy of today and tomorrow. Young people do not expect a job for life - so we need to design support that can go with the individual, from job to job.

"There was also a total consensus among disabled people's organizations and charities that segregated employment is not a model for the 21st century. Instead in-work support like Access to Work is the right way to support disabled people so that those acquiring disability can keep their jobs; and those entering work can work in any sector they choose.

"We have good evidence and examples of 'what works' for people facing the greatest barriers: work experience in regular workplaces and flexible support for both employee and employer. Putting this in place will support disabled people's independence and sense of identity and help close the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people. This would boost the economy by £13bn."

Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller who commissioned the report, said:

The review was set up to look at employment support available for disabled people and shows:

The report "Getting in, staying in and getting on: Disability employment support fit for the future" is published at: www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/specialist-disability-employment/

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive at the mental health charity Mind, said:

"We welcome this review and in particular the recommendation to make Access to Work more widely available. People with mental health problems are often excluded from traditional disability support systems, despite having one of the highest want to work rates of any disability group. Currently, only one percent of the budget is spent on people with mental health problems, denying many people access to a valuable resource which could support them on their journey to gain and retain employment."

Dr Rachel Perkins, Chair of Equality 2025, said:

"The system that has grown up historically is not equitable. It does little for people most likely to be out of work - people with mental health conditions, learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders - and it serves far more men than women. We need a system that supports individuals to get any job we choose: after all who wants to pack boxes just because you are disabled"

Mark Goldring CBE, Chief Executive Mencap, said:

"We can do much more to help people with disabilities into work in a way that directly benefits them and the wider society. Less than 10% of people with a learning disability are currently employed but we know that most want to. With modest help it is possible for many more people to work in open employment alongside their non disabled colleagues. This is the way that policy and practice should take us."

Mike Adams, Chief Executive Essex Coalition of Disabled People, said:

"Putting support in the hands of disabled individuals will empower far more people to get on at work and to participate fully in society than happens now. And there is nothing more powerful than learning from what other disabled people have found most useful. Disabled people's user-led organizations can have a major role in implementing the important recommendation on peer support."

Existing employment support for disabled people:

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Citing and References

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Cite This Page: Department for Work and Pensions. (2011, June 9). Review of Employment Support for Disabled. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved April 20, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/employment/uk/support-review.php

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