Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training is provided to front-desk jobcentre staff on understanding and being sympathetic to the variety of difficulties that some people with ill health or disability face.

It's really important that DWP staff have the skills required to support a range of claimants: to respect their individual needs, including those related to their health conditions and disabilities and it is DWP Policy to ensure staff have those necessary skills.

Jobcentre Advisers, after initial compulsory training sessions can regularly update their knowledge through access to a comprehensive training programme. This training focuses on raising awareness of the individual's personal circumstances, and also recognises that disabilities and health conditions can affect individuals in different ways.

Further support for claimants is available from Disability Employment Advisers who receive additional training which has been designed in conjunction with Specialist DWP Occupational Psychologists to enable those advisers to provide effective support to people with particular complex needs.