Access to Work

1. Access to Work Presentation by: Yvonne Baird External Relations Team 4 October 12

2. What is Access to Work • Is a National Programme delivered by Department for Work and Pensions • Introduced in 1994 and has grown year on year since. • Aims to assist disabled people who are in paid employment or with a job to start • Gives practical support and help to meet additional costs with overcoming work related obstacles resulting from disability. • Can provide a grant towards these additional costs • A flexible programme that focuses on the needs of the individual

3. Some of the benefits of Access to Work Encourages greater independence Provides work for those who can Promotes work as being the best route to inclusion for disabled people Enables disabled people to work on a more equal basis with non disabled colleagues Encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people by offering practical help Provides advice to disabled people and their employers

4. Over 35,000 individuals were helped or supported by Access to Work in 2010 / 11 Nearly 30% of the people helped during this time had sensory impairments Nearly 16% of the people helped during this time had a back or neck condition Over 500 people were supported with a mental health condition in the workplace. A few facts and figures?

5. Access to WorkEligibilityHow To ApplyTypes of Help

6. To be eligible for help, a customer must: Have a disability or health condition that has a long term adverse affect on their ability to carry out their job Be over 16 years old Be in, or about to start, paid employment (including self employment) Live and work in Great Britain Not be claiming Incapacity Benefit or ESA once they are in work (with the exception of higher permitted work) Eligibility

7. Applications are made by the disabled employee not the employer Applications are taken over the telephone in the majority of cases. Alternative arrangements can be made for applicants whose disability prevents them from using the telephone The applicant rings one of our contact centres and is connected with our Customer Service Team who will check eligibility and fill out the application form for the applicant The form is then sent to the applicant for them to check, sign and return. The application then becomes active and is allocated to an Access to Work adviser who will then process the case to an outcome How To Apply

8. There are seven main elements within Access to Work: Special Aids and Equipment (SAE) Adaptations to Premises and equipment (APE) Travel to Work (TtW) Travel in Work (TiW) Support Worker (SW) Communication Support at Interview (CSI) Mental Health Support Service (MHSS) Types Of Help

9. Support is available from Access to Work for people with mental health conditions and are either: Going into work Absent from work as a result of a mental health condition Finding work difficult as a result of a mental health condition The support available from Access to Work includes: An assessment of needs A personalised support plan with detailed steps designed to keep a person in, or help them to return to work Signposting to relevant intervention and support services This service is provided for Access to Work by Remploy Mental Health Support Service

10. Access to WorkCost SharingFinancial Support

11. Access to Work does not provide the support itself, but the grant with which to procure the support that is needed The level of grant will depend on: Whether the applicant is employed or self employed How long they have been in their job The type of help required The size of company they work for Access to Work Grants

12. Access to Work will pay grants of up to 100% for: Unemployed people starting a job All self employed people People who have been in their jobs for less than six weeks when they first apply for Access to Work And in all cases for: Support Workers Additional Travel to Work and Travel in Work costs Communication Support at Interview Access to Work Grants

13. Cost sharing is applied in some cases and this is a mandatory contribution towards the cost of adjustments. This contribution is sought from a source other than Access to Work (principally from the employer) – not the applicant Applies to applicants who are employed and have been in their job for more than six weeks when they apply for Access to Work It applies only to Special Aids and Equipment (SAE) and Adaptations to Premises and Equipment (APE) It does not apply to self employed applicants Cost Sharing

14. The amount of the threshold is determined by the number of employees employed by the organisation for whom the applicant is working: 0 – 9 attract no cost share 10 – 49 - £300 Threshold and 20% of the costs thereafter 50 – 249 - £500 Threshold and 20% of the costs thereafter Over 250 - £1000 Threshold and 20% of the costs thereafter The threshold amount is applied once on a case in a 3 year period. This means that if an applicant’s circumstances change within this period and further adjustments are required, the initial threshold amount will not be applied again. Costs above £10,000 will normally be met by Access to Work If there is a general business benefit a contribution will be sought in addition to any compulsory cost share Cost Sharing

15. Access to WorkCase StudiesContact Details

16. ? Next Steps Access to Work Customer Journey David Alldred – Pharmacy Lecturer, University of Leeds. (SAE & SW) • Due to the technical difficulties David was experiencing, the adviser discussed with David the option of having an assessment completed at his workplace which David agreed to. • The Access to Work adviser received a report produced by the assessor which gave details of the recommendations and quotes for additional equipment. The adviser was then able to put together an offer of support for David which allowed his employer to claim some of the cost of the adjustments back from Access to Work. • The Access to Work adviser then contacted David’s employer to explain the next steps and gain their co-operation to allow an assessor to visit the site as well as discussing the implications of Access to Work cost sharing. • David has worked at the University of Leeds since 2004. When he started at the University, he was a research clinical pharmacist before becoming a lecturer in pharmacy. • An application was taken over the phone and a completed form was then sent to David for him to check and sign the same day • When David returned the signed application form, he was contacted by an Access to Work adviser who spoke to David about the difficulties he was experiencing. David had explained how he was finding it difficult to complete simple tasks such as using his keyboard and mouse due to the pain and also his mobility was affected. • Following the conversation with the employer, the assessment was agreed and took place the next week where the assessor was able to recommend various adjustments that would ease the pain David was experiencing. The assessor was also able to recommend some specialised equipment and software to further reduce David’s pain and discomfort. • This was not the end of the journey for David as when his condition deteriorated, he contacted Access to Work again to explain how things had changed. At This time, the adviser was able to recommend that David utilises a support worker to act as a conduit for some of his tasks. The support worker is fully funded by Access to Work and continues to be in place following the original decision in March 2009 • David found that he was having great difficulties in work with many of his tasks which was attributed to pain he was experiencing in his joints. This was attributed to RSI before a diagnosis was reached confirming he had Joint Hypermobility Syndrome. • David contacted Access to Work to see if there was any help available for him to allow him to keep his job. David’s assistive technology took 38 working days from receipt of application to support in place. Support Worker funding was made available 1 working day following the decision by the adviser to provide support. Funding for David’s support worker was put in place for the mandatory 3 years and is reviewed annually.

17. ? Next Steps Access to Work Customer Journey Nicola Mattocks – Administrator, Ammanford Junior Gateway (SAE) • The adviser and Nicola agreed to having an assessment completed to determine what changes would be needed to allow Nicola to take up her new role without her disability being a barrier. • The Access to Work adviser received a report produced by the assessor which gave details of the recommendations and quotes for additional equipment. The adviser was then able to put together an offer of support for Nicola which allowed her employer to make the required changes and claim back the costs. • The Access to Work adviser then contacted Nicola’s employer to discuss the option of an assessment and to explain that as Nicola was new to the role, the cost of any additional adjustment due to Nicola’s disability would be covered in full by Access to Work • Nicola is registered blind due to numerous conditions which have contributed to the deterioration of her vision. Nicola was claiming ESA but was determined that her disability would not be a barrier to her finding work. • An application was taken over the phone and a completed form was then sent. Nicola had stressed to Access to Work that she would not be able to start the role until she had been assessed and adjustments had been made. • Through her determination, Nicola was able to secure a job as an administrator for a charity. Nicola was successful in getting this job because of her abilities and she was able to inform her employer that she would be eligible for Access to Work support. • The application was made on 2nd Jan ’12 and Nicola was due to start work on 1st Feb 12. Nicola returned the form promptly and was then contacted by an Access to Work adviser who went through the appraisal process with her. Nicola would be responsible for data input and general administrative duties in her role which would have been extremely difficult with her limited vision. • Following the conversation with the employer, the assessment was agreed and took place the next week where the assessor was able to recommend various adjustments that included a cctv magnifier, specialist software, high visibility keyboard and a larger monitor • The support that was required for Nicola to start in this role was in place by 25th January 2012, less than 4 weeks after the initial application was made and a week before the start date Nicola had for the job. Nicola was quoted as saying the programme was “absolutely marvellous” and she was so proud to be back in paid employment after 16 months of claiming ESA. • Nicola had used Access to Work in a previous role so she knew about the programme and was able to make an application immediately upon acceptance of the job

18. ? Next Steps Access to Work Customer Journey Michael Ryan – Customer Care Manager Support, NatWest (TtW) • The adviser asked Mike to gather 3 comparable quotes for the journey with a view to awarding a grant which would allow him to use the most cost effective quote. • The support was able to be available immediately upon the completion of the appraisal process and this was confirmed in writing to Mike and his employer. Mike has been using this support since June 2011 and has stated that as well as being able to get to and from work, his quality of life has improved because he is not as drained or tired from the effort he was putting into his commute. • The Access to Work adviser then contacted Mike’s employer to explain that we intended to support Mike on his journey’s to and from work. The adviser also asked the employer whether they would be willing to contribute towards the cost of the support. At the time they were unable to contribute. • Mike has been blind since birth and has been independent for as long as he can remember. Mike has worked for NatWest in central London since 1973. In this time, he has been using a combination of 3 buses to get to and from work independently each day. • Mike said he didn’t want to “surrender to his disabilities” so he kept avoiding contacting Access to Work until he was eventually convinced by his colleague. Mike applied via telephone and was able to complete the application entirely this way which he appreciated. • Mike had developed arthritis a number of years ago which caused him significant pain when walking and moving. He explained that he had to learn a new route to work due to the pain of walking and climbing steps. Mike was unfortunately hit by a car along this route which has slowed him down further due to anxiety which in turn exasperates the pain in his joints. • Mike was contacted by an Access to Work adviser who appraised the case with him and determined that there was a genuine requirement for some travel support to allow Mike to get to and from work safely and free from pain. The adviser went through various options on travel including paying for someone to accompany Mike. While this would ensure his safety, it would not reduce the pain factor of the journey so funding towards taxis was agreed. • Mike was able to provide the quotes and the adviser then set up a 3 year period of support which would allow Mike to use taxis during this time to get to and from work. The total value of the support for this period is £47,124.00. The support allows Mike to get to work everyday without any difficulties or pain. During the 3 year period of support, Mike is contacted by an adviser annually to check the level of support correctly caters for his needs in a review. • Mike’s support is in place for 3 years and will end in May 2014. Before this is allowed to lapse, Access to Work will contact Mike to check whether he still requires support and initiate a renewal application with him at least 1 month before the end date. Mike has quoted: “If anyone suggests to you that you should contact Access to Work, you should do so as soon as possible. I wish that I had done so earlier as it would have made my life so much better a lot sooner” • Mike contacted Access to Work after asked to do so by a colleague Mike’s initial application was signed and returned on 12th May and support was in place 6th June. (17 working days) Support was put in place the same day the adviser had received the required information from Mike. Support is in place for 3 years with annual reviews planned to ensure the correct level of support is in place.

19. This presentation is intended to be a general guide to the principles underpinning the Access to Work programme and is not a full and authoritative statement of the law General information about Access to Work can be found on the internet at www.direct.gov.uk You can contact the Customer Service Team with any questions on: 020 8426 3110 You can email the team at: atwosu.london@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk Presented by: Yvonne Baird 01786 432631 Further Information