Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for more resources to be made available for specialist support models for people with complex support needs, and who do not benefit from the Work and Health Programme.

The Government recognises the challenges of helping those with the most complex health conditions move closer to work. The new Personal Support Package announced in Improving Lives: The Work, Health and Disability Green Paper introduces a range of new measures and interventions designed as part of a package of support which can be tailored to people’s individual needs. The offer, which applies to all Employment and Support Allowance claimants (and Universal Credit equivalents), includes personal support from disability trained, accredited work coaches, with a focus on mental health. Work coaches will be supported by an additional 300 Disability Employment Advisers and around 200 new community partners with disability expertise and local knowledge. This will lead to better signposting to other local voluntary and public sector services that may be available. A copy of the Green Paper is attached.

The Government recognises that more needs to be done to help people stay well at work, including those with complex health conditions. The consultation on the Green Paper will help us to consider appropriate new models of support to help more people with disabilities or long term conditions to enter and remain in work.