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The Government has announced an expansion of job centre Support Conversations to 27 locations, providing one-on-one support to address the needs of disabled individuals and those with health conditions receiving out-of-work benefits.
This brings the total to 33 sites and means up to 40,000 disabled people will have access to job centre personalised support that could link them to help with their health, debt, skills, employment and housing.
Support Conversations are voluntary, hour-long sessions designed to help people identify and overcome the barriers that stop them from moving into work or into meaningful activity (such as volunteering). They are part of the Government’s commitment made in last year’s Pathways to Work Green Paper.
They are delivered by Healthcare Professionals, Pathways to Work Advisers, and Disability Employment Advisers and are available face-to-face, by video, or by telephone. They are open to those awaiting a Work Capability Assessment and to people furthest from the labour market – assessed as having Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA).
Disabled people and job centre opportunities
Minister for Employment Dame Diana Johnson said: “Too many disabled people and people with health conditions face barriers that stop them from accessing the support and opportunities they deserve.
“That is why we are expanding the number of sites delivering Support Conversations from 6 to 33 Jobcentres across Great Britain, giving up to 40,000 people personalised help tailored to their circumstances. Getting more people into good work is central to our Plan for Change and Support Conversations will help us do exactly this.”
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The Government also announced that claimants undergoing assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Work Capability Assessments (WCAs) for Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance, and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) will have their assessments automatically recorded unless they opt out.
The move marks a significant shift from the previous opt-in system, under which claimants had to request a recording. Despite being offered the option via invitation letters and assessment supplier websites, fewer than 3 per cent of claimants took it up.
Increasing transparency
It is hoped that this will improve public trust in the health assessment process by increasing transparency. Recordings will also be used as a learning tool to identify potential improvements to assessment quality and will be made available to claimants who wish to appeal their initial benefit award.
Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: Improving transparency and trust in the benefits system is one of this government’s key aims, which is why we’re making this important change. Audio recording health assessments as standard will mean we are available to make improvements and increase assessment quality, resulting in a better experience for claimants.”
Written reports will still be used as part of the decision-making process, with audio recordings providing a more accurate record should that be required. Claimants who do not wish to have their assessment recorded may opt out.
