Catriona.strivens@dwp.gsi.gov.uk o What is Access to Work ( AtW) o - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Catriona.strivens@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

• What is Access to Work ( AtW)
• Who can get help
• What support can be available
• How to apply and where to go for more

advice

• 2017 Statistics

What is Access to Work?

• Access to Work supports people with a health

condition or disability and their employers.

• Provides individual practical support and advice to

help to overcome barriers to work.

• Grants may help with additional costs beyond

“Reasonable Adjustments”

• Physical
• Dyslexia
• Sight
• Hearing

AtW helps people with all types of disabilities including:

• Mental Health
• Autism
• ADHD
• Learning Disability

Some Benefits of Access to Work:

• enables employers to find and retain valued

workers

• can help people to realise their full potential
• is good for everyone, by helping people to get

into and stay in work

Pre Work Support

• People looking for work who think they need

help, can check whether they are eligible and download an AtW introduction letter to give to potential employers

• Support to attend an interview may be

available such as BSL interpreter

What may be applied for

Support is offered based on needs. A grant can help pay for items or services including:

• Special equipment or software or adaptions
• BSL interpreters, video relay support, lip speakers & note takers
• Vehicle Adaptations
• Taxi fares or a support worker for using public transport
• A support worker or job coach to help in the workplace
• Disability awareness training for colleagues and managers
• The cost of moving equipment if the location or job changes
• A support service if you have a mental health condition (see next slide)

Mental Health Support Service

• In permanent or temporary employment (working or signed off sick)
• Have a mental health condition that has made you miss work, or is

making it difficult to remain in work

• No formal diagnosis is necessary

Support Provided includes:

• Discussing individual challenges and identifying

coping strategies

• Employer engagement where required
• Measuring self-esteem and wellbeing
• 9 months of support including 3 face to face meetings (although much
• f the work is done on the phone).

What Access to Work will not cover

You will not get an Access to Work grant to pay for:

• Changes that your employer has to make (reasonable

adjustments)

• Items that would normally be needed to do the job whether

a person is disabled or not

• Support that your employer used to provide but has stopped

Eligibility

To get help from Access to Work you must:

• Have a disability or health condition (physical or mental) that makes it hard

for you to do parts of your job or get to and from work

• Be 16 or over
• Live & Work in England, Scotland or Wales
• Have a paid job, or be about to start or return to one.

A paid job could include: self-employment, an apprenticeship, a work trial or work experience, an internship, an interview for a job

• You cannot get a grant for voluntary work.

Customers need to refer themselves to AtW, but anyone can tell the customer about the AtW programme and give them the AtW customer service team’s phone number and email address. You can also signpost the customer to www.gov.uk/access-to-work for more information. You will be asked for information Regarding:

• disability
• how you travel to work
• how your condition affects you at work
• what help you’re already getting
• what else could help you

How to Apply

SUPPORT WITH CLAIM

• A provider working alongside

the person can apply for a third party referral form

• This allows the advisor to
• ffer more information on

their clients behalf directly to Access to Work advisors

Access to Work Operational Support Unit Harrow Jobcentre Mail Handling Site A Wolverhampton WV98 1JE www.gov.uk Telephone: 0345 268 8489 Textphone:

ACCESS TO WORK THIRD PARTY CONSENT FORM

Name: Unique Reference Number (URN): Date of Birth: I give my permission for Telephone Number to act as my representative in relation to my Access to Work application and any ongoing support. I understand that I may withdraw my consent by notifying Access to Work in writing. Signed: Date: Third Party Signature: Date:

• Official use only:

Region:

The Characteristics of Access to Work Customers

The Characteristics of Access to Work Customers

The Characteristics of Access to Work Customers