Learning disability employment policy in England was led by the Valuing Employment Now (VEN) Team until it was disbanded in April 2010. Employment policy is now led by the Valuing People Now team. Only 6.4% of people with a significant disability are in paid employment in England (2010). Valuing Employment Now was published in June 2009 and is the main cross-Government policy document for England.
The Government has published the National Disability Strategy. The strategy contains a range of proposals covering education, employment, housing, transport, leisure and access to services.
The government has published a new national autism strategy. Backed by nearly £75 million in the first year, it aims to speed up diagnosis and improve support and care for autistic people. The funding includes £40 million through the NHS Long Term Plan to improve capacity in crisis services and support children with complex needs in inpatient care.
The Government has published its response to ‘Health is Everyone’s Business’; the 2019 consultation on different ways in which government and employers can take action to reduce ill health-related job loss.
Chapter 1 sets out how government will provide employers with access to good quality information and advice.
Chapter 2 outlines government plans to support employers and employees during sickness absence.
This green paper considers the options for addressing some of the short- to medium-term issues in health and disability benefits. It will also start a discussion about the opportunities for wider change to deliver on the objectives of the health and disability benefit system. The consultation is open until 11 October 2021.
We are consulting on the following aspects of our support for people with disabilities and health conditions:
The £220m Community Renewal Fund is designed to help the UK prepare for the introduction of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Fund aims to support our communities to pilot innovative programmes and new approaches, aligning national and local provision.
Projects must be completed by 31 March 2022 and projects may align with one, or deliver across several, of the following investment priorities:
Young people on or about to start the work experience placement of a supported internship, or traineeship with a disability or health condition, can apply to the Department for Work and Pensions' Access to Work fund. Young people can apply for: * funding of travel (providing assistance for additional travel costs to and from their work experience placement because of their disability); * the costs of support workers, including job coaches; and * specialist equipment for days that a young person is at the employer's premises.
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Disability has published its report on employment. The report, Ahead of the Arc, offers proposals to help halve the disability employment gap. The Inquiry was launched amid concerns that too much attention was being paid to reducing the benefits bill and not enough attention to helping disabled people participate in the labour market.
The Improving Lives Programme was established by the Welsh Government to review how well people with a learning disability are supported throughout their lives. The document contains a number of recommendations in Appendix 2.
