NATIONAL charity Shaw Trust today said DWP moves to ensure more joined up specialist support for people making the break from welfare to work would be even more powerful if they joined forces with other government departments.
"We welcome the opportunity to respond to the Improving Specialist Disability Employment Services consultation and applaud the thinking behind the proposals to streamline delivery by replacing the Job Introduction Scheme, Work Preparation and WORKSTEP with one new seamless programme to effectively help people with more complex needs," said Shaw Trust's Executive Director of Employment, Stuart Knowles.
"We have long said that having a series of programmes means a fragmented service. It makes sense to put people first and ensure they get expert bespoke help to move towards and into sustained employment. Everyone deserves the same chance to progress and to achieve their potential, however complicated their needs, and at whatever stage they need support. That is why we also welcome the DWP proposals to ensure the services are available to those making the transition from education or social services provision to employment.
"However, as always, it is crucial that the new programme is delivered by expert providers and is properly funded. Thus it would make even more sense to add to the savings to be found by combining those three services, by looking at adding more funding from sources such as Direct Payments, Independent Living Funds and Access to Work, and to investigate the establishment of community partnerships.
"We would also like to see a cross-departmental consultation to bring more closely together services offered at local and national health board levels with the social care system."
Shaw Trust, which helps people to achieve work and independence, will deliver its formal response to the DWP consultation tomorrow (Thursday).
* Stuart Knowles is available for interview
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For further details, please contact Shaw Trust Policy Analyst Lisa Mormon on 07811334090, PR Officer Becky Gammon on 07779 784901 or you can email: crucialpr@shaw-trust.org.uk
2. Shaw Trust is a national charity, formed in 1982, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels.
3. Across the
