Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Jobcentre Plus work coaches have received training in dealing with people with autism.

I am not able to provide a definitive number of Work Coaches who have received training in dealing with people with autism. This is because our learning is delivered through a wide range of methods, including structured classroom based modules, up-skilling from colleagues and some delivered by third party organisations.

All our Work Coaches undertake a learning routeway which includes information to help them deliver to customers with a wide range of additional needs including those with disabilities and hidden conditions such as autism.

We have also recently changed the role of Disability Employment Advisers to allow them to focus on sharing their expertise with all Work Coaches and Jobcentre staff. As part of this we have recruited new Disability Employment Advisers, some of whom will still be undertaking their learning journey.

On 27 March, to coincide with World Autism Awareness Week, we also launched a new Disability Confident Autism and Neuro-diversity Toolkit which we developed in partnership with Autism Alliance UK and the Autism Task Group. Communications about this went out to all DWP staff, not just those in customer-facing roles, to ensure our entire workforce is able to understand the needs of customers with autism and other hidden impairments.