§ Ms BlearsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what support his Department offers to people with acquired brain injury; [147957]
(2) what plans he has to help individuals with acquired brain injury back into work. [147958]
§ Ms HodgeThe Employment Service provides a range of services which support people with acquired brain injury. It provides a network of Disability Employment Advisers, who, in addition to providing advice about job opportunities, act as the gateway to specialist programmes aimed at securing a return to work. One of these is Work Preparation, for which the Employment Service contracts with local providers who deliver flexible programmes tailored to the needs of each individual. Other measures which can be used to help people with acquired brain injury are the Access to Work Programme and the Job Introduction Scheme.
§ Ms BlearsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance he gives to local authorities in Greater Manchester on support for vocational rehabilitation for individuals with acquired brain injury. [147959]
§ Ms HodgeMy Department does not give any guidance to local authorities. Support for vocational rehabilitation, including support for those with acquired brain injury, is provided by the Employment Service, which contracts with various providers to deliver services to meet local needs.