Press Release

Queen's Speech response: Welfare reform must deliver for disabled people

3rd December 2008

National disability charity United Response has welcomed legislation on welfare reform, announced in today's Queen's Speech, as an opportunity to debate employment opportunities for disabled people, but has expressed concern at the impact of penalties on those unable to access work.

Speaking about the Government's plans, Chief Executive of United Response, Su Sayer OBE, said:
"We support the Government’s objective of helping disabled people and those with mental health problems into work. Having a job is an important source of independence, self esteem and social inclusion for everyone, and is particularly important for many people with learning disabilities or mental health needs. However, employment rates for these groups remains low and as competition for jobs increases those furthest from the labour market will undoubtedly be the first to lose out, unless we take action.

"Much has been done to increase support for disabled people wishing to enter in to employment, such as the doubling of the Access to Work budget. But as take up of the scheme remains low, we believe that the Government must do more to increase awareness of such schemes in order for them to have a real impact on employment opportunities.

"In the current economic climate, the value of voluntary work experience and timebanking schemes as ways of people gaining new skills and developing confidence must also be recognised."

On tailored support, Su Sayer said:
"Personalised employment provision is vital in meeting the needs of hard to reach groups such as disabled people and those with mental health needs. The recommendation, made in Professor Gregg's independent report to Department of Work and Pensions, to extend this provision is welcome.

"In our experience, tailored support, such as that provided through supported employment schemes - whereby both disabled employee and their employer receive support from a job coach - is a tried and tested way of introducing someone to the workplace whilst offering the employer a trained and experienced employee. Supported employment also gives employers the opportunity to experience first hand the added value of employing someone with learning disabilities, but patchy and fragmented funding often makes it difficult for people to access the support they need."

Commenting on benefit sanctions, Su Sayer said:
"We are concerned that the proposed reform could see people with mental health needs, who unable to find work, either through a lack of support or through a lack of job opportunities, facing penalties and losing their benefit entitlement.

"We are also concerned that the emphasis on reducing numbers of people claiming benefits, and the use of private sector organisations on results-based contracts to provide support, means there will be strong incentives for providers to cherry pick those who need least support to find a job. This is a particular concern in an economic climate where job opportunities are already limited.

"We also need to work together to challenge discrimination in the workplace. Only last week a report highlighted the incidents of bullying experienced by disabled people at work. And Professor Gregg's review also recognises the reluctance of employers to recruit those with long term conditions as a barrier to disabled people securing employment and moving off benefits.

"We need to demonstrate to employers that recruiting disabled people is not about tokenism. In our experience, employers are often surprised by the added value that someone with learning disabilities, for example, can bring to a team; carrying out core repetitive tasks to a high standard and boosting staff morale."