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<p>The Department is committed to supporting claimants with Learning Disabilities
and/or Autism move closer to the labour market or into work.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The
increased number of work coaches will help the newly unemployed and also enable us
to continue supporting those with complex needs, and to work with partners to ensure
they get the help they need. People in particular disadvantaged groups will continue
to benefit from support via the increased Flexible Support Fund and priority early
access to the Work and Health Programme. In addition, claimants with learning disabilities
are also able to access Intensive Personalised Employment Support (IPES) if they are
further from the labour market.</p><p><strong><em> </em></strong></p><p>From April
2021, we have strengthened our Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) role to include
delivering direct support to claimants who require additional work related support
and advice above our core work coach offer. DEAs continue to support all work coaches
to deliver tailored, personalised support to all claimants with a disability or health
condition. Since May, we are increasing our DEA resource from 685 nationally with
the aspiration to reach 1000.</p><p> </p><p>We have a number of initiatives and schemes
to support claimants with health conditions such as:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Intensive
Personalised Employment Support provision provides highly personalised packages of
employment support for disabled people who want to work but have complex needs or
barriers and require specialist support to achieve sustained employment.</li><li>Access
to Work is a demand-led discretionary grant scheme that provides funding for the extra
disability-related costs people have when starting work or maintaining employment.
It can also support disabled people on an apprenticeship, Department for Education
supported internship or traineeship</li><li>The Department delivered the Local Supported
Employment Proof of Concept, run in partnership with 9 local authorities from November
2017 to May 2019. It was based on the “Place and Train” model of supported employment.
This aimed to test whether the Department, in partnership with Local Authorities (LAs),
could increase delivery of high-quality supported employment for people with a learning
disability or autism who are known to adult social care, or those in contact with
secondary mental health services. The proof of concept also aimed to help spread best
practice among LAs. Following the successful proof of concept, the Department is looking
to develop an area based trial with 20 LAs. The trial was paused because of the coronavirus
pandemic</li><li>Supported Internships are aimed at young people ability/autism who
have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan and they usually last for 12 months.
Support from a specialist job coach and other costs may be funded through Access to
Work if necessary. Whilst the Department for Education lead on this the Department
provides support through Access to Work funding</li><li>Through the Disability Confident
scheme, the Department is engaging with employers and helping to promote the skills,
talents and abilities of people with autism and associated conditions. Through the
scheme, the Department is providing advice and support to help employers feel more
confident about employing disabled people, by signposting them to appropriate advice
guidance and support.</li><li>The increased number of work coaches will help the newly
unemployed and also enable us to continue supporting those with complex needs, and
to work with partners to ensure they get the help they need</li><li>People in particular
disadvantaged groups will continue to benefit from support via the increased Flexible
Support Fund and priority early access to the Work and Health Programme</li></ul><p>
</p><p> </p>
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