Workplace Inclusivity and Accessibility 2024-03-20
2024-03-20
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The question addresses the government's initiatives to support disabled individuals in the workplace, including specific programmes like Access to Work.
What steps she is taking to help increase inclusivity and accessibility at work for disabled people?
The Government have a programme of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions in starting, staying and succeeding in work. That includes Access to Work, Disability Confident, and a digital information service for employers, which aim to increase inclusivity and accessibility for disabled people in the workplace.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The question highlights the work of the Beacon Centre for the Blind in Sedgley, where Marco Longhi met with partially sighted employees Kaydee and Nathan. The visit underlined the challenges faced by vulnerable people.
What more can the Minister and her Department do to raise awareness and better support charities such as the Beacon Centre and its users?
I met representatives from the Disability Charities Consortium yesterday, and some of those matters were discussed. We have invested £2 billion in improving inclusivity and accessibility at work for disabled people and people facing health barriers. We have hundreds of jobcentres across the country, and fantastic work coaches are tapping into extra support through our network of disability employment advisers to assist people just like Kaydee and Nathan.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The question addresses issues faced by disabled workers with the Access to Work scheme, such as long wait times, cost caps, and low awareness. Only 40% of disabled individuals are aware of this scheme.
Adjustments are often vital for helping disabled people in their job, but Scope says that disabled workers face many issues with the Access to Work scheme, including a long wait for an assessment, a cap on costs, and low awareness of the scheme among disabled people. Only 40% of them know about it. Will the Minister work with her Cabinet colleagues to improve the Access to Work scheme and prevent the disability employment gap from widening?
The Access to Work scheme is a demand-led personalised discretionary grant, but working with employers, looking around occupational health and other interventions to support people are equally as important. I can assure the hon. Lady that I met my officials yesterday about the Access to Work scheme. I am looking at any delays, any impacts and any changes every couple of weeks to ensure that people who want to work and need support can get it in a timely fashion.
▸
Assessment & feedback
long wait times, cost caps, low awareness among disabled individuals
Looking Around Occupational Health And Other Interventions
Response accuracy