Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what length of training programme new work coaches are expected to undertake before they are able to support claimants independently.

Currently, new Work Coaches undertake a training programme which in total is 52 working days. This currently consists of 32 days facilitated learning with 20 days’ consolidation interspersed throughout, enabling them to become an effective Work Coach with both the knowledge and skills to support claimants. As will all DWP employees, even after an initial learning intervention line managers and employees continue to discuss and agree ongoing skills development

To strengthen the ongoing development of colleagues we are also currently testing a transformed approach based on research from public and private sector. This will contain 20 days facilitated learning plus 5 days structured, practical consolidation. This is followed up with a suite of products enabling colleagues to learn in a flexible, digital way, better supporting the continuously learning culture.

We are evaluating the impact of this approach and will refine and iterate as we go. Testing will continue over the next 6 weeks, refining where needed, until we are confident we can move to this model for all new Work Coaches.