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<p>All employers have a duty under the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents"
target="_blank">Equality Act 2010</a> to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ in the workplace
where a disabled person would otherwise be put at a substantial disadvantage compared
with their colleagues. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible
for enforcing the Equality Act and providing guidance on reasonable adjustments.</p><p>
</p><p>For disabled people who require adjustments which are beyond reasonable adjustments,
Access to Work (AtW) can provide a grant for the disability related extra costs of
working a disabled employee may face. To support employers an AtW case manager will
contact the customer’s employer ahead of making an AtW award to offer advice on reasonable
adjustments an employer can provide and the support available under the AtW scheme.</p><p>
</p><p>DWP has worked with stakeholders to develop a series of Adjustments Passports
and Planners to support disabled people, and those with a health condition, with the
transitions into employment and between jobs. The Adjustments Passport and Planners
provide individuals with an up to date document of their adjustments and working requirements
and empower the holder to have more structured conversations about their disability
with their employer. They also raise awareness of Access to Work, and where an application
is made, help to reduce the need for another assessment, enabling support to be put
in place more quickly.</p><p>The Disability Confident scheme provides employers with
the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to attract, recruit, retain and develop
disabled people in the workplace. When an employer signs-up to the Disability Confident
scheme, they agree to commitments which include anticipating and providing reasonable
adjustments as required. They also agree to support any existing employee who acquires
a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work. The scheme
provides resources for members including the recently published <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-confident-and-cipd-guide-for-line-managers-on-employing-people-with-a-disability-or-health-condition"
target="_blank">Disability Confident Manager’s Guide</a> which explains how managers
can make and review reasonable adjustments, consider flexible working, and includes
examples of other types of adjustments.</p><p>As part of the government's response
to the Health is Everyone’s Business Consultation, DWP has developed a digital service
for employers, offering tailored guidance on health and disability. The service is
called <a href="https://www.support-with-employee-health-and-disability.dwp.gov.uk/support-with-employee-health-and-disability"
target="_blank">Support with Employee Health and Disability</a> and is live across
GB, testing very well with employers. Developed with small and medium enterprise (SME)
employers, using user centred design principles, the service offers a simple, interactive
and highly usable resource which helps employers to feel more confident having conversations
about health and disability, as well as understanding and fulfilling their legal obligations
on topics such as reasonable adjustments, and signposting to sources of expert support.</p><p>The
fit note includes an option to allow a healthcare professional to indicate that a
patient ‘may be fit for work subject to the following advice’ and provide general
details of the functional effect of the individual’s condition and recommend common
types of workplace adjustments. However, over 10 million fit notes each year are issued
in England without any such advice, resulting in a missed opportunity to help people
get the appropriate support they may need to remain in work.</p><p>That is why we
announced funding in the 2023 Autumn Statement to test new ways of providing individuals
receiving a fit note with tailored support, including referral to support through
their local WorkWell service pilot. To support this, we launched a Call for Evidence
to seek views on how the current fit note process works and the support required to
facilitate meaningful work and health conversations and help people start, stay and
succeed in work.</p>
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