Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he plans to take to ensure all Work Coaches receive specific training in the barriers to employment faced by disabled people, including people with complex disabilities.

DWP Work Coaches undergo comprehensive training to support customers with additional or complex needs, particularly disabilities and they continue to build on this in the workplace through accessing point of need learning products.

Technical learning enables work coaches to determine what is required and never assume to know and to cultivate effective communication skills including the sensitive use of questions, to reach joint decisions with the claimant.

The learning also provides the work coach with an understanding of assisted digital, and how they can effectively coach claimants who find using digital services a challenge.

Work coaches are also signposted to tools, guidance support and websites to effectively use resources from both internal and external sites. This ensures that they access the most up to date advice and expertise on a particular health condition.