Disability Service Teams (Hansard, 28 July 2000)

§ Ms Hodge

[holding answer 10 July 2000]: The meeting on 8 May focused on the Access to Work programme, which is one of a range of services available to help Disability Service Teams achieve their aim of getting disabled people into, or to retain, jobs. This meeting was convened to obtain views from a range of Access to Work users on this programme. Sue Maynard-Campbell, who chairs the Advisory Committee 1047W for Disabled People in Employment and Training (ACDET), chaired the meeting and a detailed report of the discussions held has been produced. A copy of the information requested is contained in a report which has been placed in the Libraries.

A number of key themes emerged and they are listed here: Disabled people's experience and knowledge is just not taken seriously enough. A change of approach in delivery of the service from one which focuses on an individual's "disability" and the help they need, to one which focuses on identifying and meeting access needs. A "fast-track" scheme to enable people needing a significant level of impairment specific advice to enable appropriate equipment and/or support to be given to get to that advice quickly. Direct payments" to enable those who are clear about their needs to meet them in the most appropriate way within an agreed budget. People with continuing access needs—with no significant changes—to have minor renewal application process or for them to manage their own budget. A more effective system of monitoring to ensure that people do not get an inferior service when they move from one part of the country to another. DEAs need disability equality training. They actually need to understand the culture that disabled people came from and how it may affect them, and the individuality of disabled people and the individuality of their situation as well. Training to raise DEAs awareness of impairment specific issues and of equipment available to meet specific access is needed. DEAs should also be kept up to date with developments in equipment solutions Accreditation to include an assessment of awareness of access needs and of current equipment, for external training providers. Better arrangements are needed to facilitate speedy repair or replacement of essential equipment. There needs to be ways of ensuring DEAs have a much greater understanding of the employer perspective.

This consultation exercise is one of a number of ways the Employment Service is seeking to improve Access to Work; these include a major survey of Access to Work customers and a full process review of Access to Work which will draw on the expertise of management consultants.