§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking in conjunction with the Department of Health to improve employment prospects for those who have an acquired brain injury. [16821]
§ Mr. BerryTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent meetings he has had with the Department of Health regarding the provision of rehabilitation services for people with acquired brain injury. [17258]
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§ Mr. Nicholas BrownDepartmental officials consulted the Department of Health as part of a process to produce an improved framework for brain injury rehabilitation services for the Employment Service's Work Preparation programme. Following consultations with providers of brain injury Work Preparation services and officials in the Department of Health, the delivery of these services will incorporate changes which should result in significant benefits for those who use them. The improvements include
Being clearer about the scope of Work Preparation delivered by the Employment Service, compared with other forms of rehabilitation, some of which are contracted with the Department of Health.Greater individualisation of provision based on comprehensive assessments of clients' needs.The Employment Service has also taken into account views on the average length of the Work Preparation programme and lengthened this as a result. By introducing the national framework, the Employment Service will now deliver consistent brain injury Work Preparation programmes throughout Great Britain, which are clear in their scope. We expect these new arrangements to improve employment prospects for those who have acquired brain injury.