Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Improving lives: the future of work, health and disability policy paper published on 30 November 2017, what progress his Department has made on building positive relationships with customers as outlined in that paper.

Since 2017, we have been continuing to build the capability of Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches to deliver tailored support and to build positive relationships with our customers.

All of our Work Coaches undergo comprehensive learning to support customers with additional or complex needs, and they continue to build on this in the workplace through accessing point of need learning products. The learning provides Work Coaches with the knowledge and skills needed to enable them to:

• treat each claimant as an individual;
• support them with their health condition and the impacts of their condition;
• help overcome any barriers;
• support them into moving closer to the working environment.

We have also delivered training to all our Work Coaches so they can acquire a better understanding of mental health.

Work Coaches are supported by Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs) who provide expert knowledge on how to support disabled customers. DEAs are currently upskilling our Work Coaches on the Health Adjustment Passport, and on how to use tailoring up approaches to better support disabled people claiming benefits, in addition to their other roles and responsibilities. Every Work Coach in England, Scotland and Wales has access to a Disability Employment Adviser.