Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many youth employability coaches are trained in the use of British Sign Language.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information requested is not readily available. Youth Employability Coaches and DWP staff based at Youth Hubs do not receive additional training in the use of British Sign Language (BSL). There may be some staff in these roles who are BSL proficient, but this information is not collated centrally by the department.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is committed to making its services accessible for all its customers and our Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches are trained to consider a person’s circumstances and to tailor support to their individual needs. Customers who are deaf or hard of hearing and attending a prearranged appointment with DWP, either at a Jobcentre or a Youth Hub, are able to access different support based on how hearing loss affects their communication needs. We provide mainly portable, but also some fixed hearing loops across the network and staff have access to a language services contract to pre-book an interpreter to support face to face contact. The interpreter will be skilled in providing non-spoken language support including BSL.
Furthermore, a Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) is assigned to each Jobcentre site. Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs) work alongside Jobcentre Work Coaches and Youth Employability Coaches to support claimants, including those with hearing loss. They provide expert knowledge on how to support disabled customers and building the skills and capability of Work Coaches. DEAs can also directly support customers with health conditions and disabilities where this can benefit the customer. Every Work Coach in every Jobcentre has access to a DEA.
Following the expansion of Video Relay Service last year, whereby deaf customers are now able to make an inbound telephone call to DWP via a British Sign Language interpreter using a video connection, DWP is currently exploring how this technology can be adapted to support video remote interpreting which will enable outbound contact. This will increase the flexibility for DWP to conduct face to face and telephony based contact with deaf and hard of hearing customers.
The Employer and Partnerships role within DWP forms effective networks with a variety of local stakeholders, including organisations and charities that support customers with hearing loss. These relationships are vital to ensure that DWP is able to provide consistent and effective support to its customers.
On a national level, DWP has established a range of networks with its stakeholders to provide a voice for the customer. Stakeholder groups such as the Reasonable Adjustments Forum and the Operational Stakeholder Engagement Forum regularly meet with a cross section of organisations representing disabilities including those with hearing loss. The purpose of these forums is to ensure that DWP elicits feedback and insight into how its services are being used by those with additional communication needs and to seek continuous improvement.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
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.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
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:
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.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
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 continuing to build the capacity of Jobcentre Plus work coaches to deliver tailored support as outlined in that report.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
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:
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.
Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to improve job opportunities for young people with employment access needs.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Jobcentre Plus partnership and employer adviser teams work closely with national and local employers to help address their labour market needs by recruiting suitable claimants.
To promote opportunities for young people with access needs, Jobcentre Plus offers additional support to employers who are committed to helping these young people succeed in the labour market. Through the Disability Confident scheme, for example, DWP is providing advice and support to help employers feel more confident about employing disabled people. This in turn helps to promote the skills, talents and abilities of people with disabilities and health conditions.
As part of the DWP Youth Offer, Youth Employability Coaches work alongside Disability Employment Advisers to support claimants who have a disability or health condition to enter and stay in employment. Some Youth Hubs also offer mental health support and services, alongside skills, training, and employment provision.
There are a range of initiatives businesses can get involved in to give opportunities and experience to young people, including apprenticeships, traineeships, mentoring circles, and work experience. In addition, Access to Work and the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service provide personalised support to enable disabled people and those with a health condition to move into or keep employment.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what help is available to those who have (a) no money or (b) are unemployed to get a HGV Licence.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Government has invested up to £34 million in skills bootcamps to train up to 11,000 more people to become HGV drivers. These are free, short, intensive courses to train new drivers to gain an HGV licence. In addition, the Large Goods Vehicle Driver apprenticeship standard to train articulated HGV drivers, which is supported with up to £7,000 of funding, and the Urban Driver apprenticeship to train rigid HGV drivers with up to £5,000 of funding are available for businesses.
Support for education and training outside England is a matter for the devolved administrations.
The Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus in England, Scotland and Wales are also supporting jobseekers become HGV drivers where appropriate. Some Jobcentre regions have created Sector-based Work Academy Programmes where the local job market requires more HGV drivers.
Employment support is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training has been provided on domestic abuse to Job Centre Plus staff in the last two years.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
All work coaches receive mandatory training developed and reviewed by domestic abuse partner organisations. Each site has access to their District Provision Toolkit which enables colleagues to support with complex needs. At a local level, Jobcentres have link and local agreements with a network of charities with whom we work in partnership to provide support for victims of domestic abuse.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps her Department has taken to reduce the number of young people aged 18 to 24 (a) not working or (b) looking for a job in the North East.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
Through Jobcentre Plus, the Department of Work and Pensions is helping young people to find the right support, education or training that will ultimately lead to sustained employment opportunities and career progression. The DWP Youth Offer provides individually tailored work coach support to young people aged 16 to 24 who are in the Universal Credit Intensive Work Search group. This support includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with additional barriers to finding work, and Youth Hubs across Great Britain. We have extended the DWP Youth Offer to 2025 and expanded eligibility to include 16 and 17-year-olds, in addition to 18- to 24-year-olds, who are claiming Universal Credit and searching for work
We currently have a network of Youth Hubs across North East England which bring together employment support from a Jobcentre Plus work coach and place-based support from local partnerships to help young people into work. The support offered in a Hub is dependent on local needs, but examples include skills, training, and employment provision, alongside a range of dedicated support services such as mental health, housing and debt management delivered by local partners. Through the Kickstart Scheme we saw over 8,000 Kickstart jobs started by young people in the North East.
Core skills are fundamental in securing, retaining, and progressing in work. DWP is delivering a comprehensive package of support for young people in collaboration with the Department for Education and National Careers Service in England, the Devolved Administrations, and other partners. This Government has invested in apprenticeships, vocational and basic skills training, alongside careers advice and Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs). SWAP opportunities link skills/employability training with guaranteed interviews and real vacancies – providing a routeway into work for young people. Whilst many opportunities are entry level, they often offer good career pathways and in work progression.
The Job Help campaign offers job search advice and showcases priority sectors and job vacancies to help young people successfully find work. The Job Help website also provides help to get work experience and signposting to initiatives such as Access to work.
Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of trends in the number of HGV drivers in the UK; and what steps she is taking to address any shortages of those drivers.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Office for National Statistics Annual Population Survey estimates that the number of HGV drivers in the twelve-month period ending March 2022 was 262,700, this is up from 253,200 in the twelve-month period ending December 2021. ONS have identified and are investigating an issue in the classification of some occupations in its statistics. While investigations are still ongoing, it is not anticipated that figures of HGV/LGV drivers will be significantly impacted.
In response the Government has taken decisive action to address the HGV driver shortage putting in place 33 short, medium and long-term interventions to date to help alleviate the existing HGV driver shortages. These interventions include investing up to £34 million to create skills bootcamps to train up to 11,000 more people to become HGV drivers. We are also supporting HGV driver training through apprenticeships, including the Large Goods Vehicle Driver and Urban Driver apprenticeships. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Jobcentre Plus are also supporting returning to driving and helping jobseekers become HGV drivers where appropriate.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has expanded HGV driver testing capacity and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has improved licencing processes in order to help get these new drivers on the road.
The Government continues to have positive engagement with the sector who report that the 33 measures are working.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional funding her Department has made available to support people in Blackpool into work.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
In Blackpool, all customers have access to the Plan for Jobs offer, delivering a comprehensive range of support to help people back into work. Mainstream employment support is supplemented through DWP’s local Flexible Support Funded (FSF) provision, in response to needs identified within the local community, delivering tailored support to enhance employment prospects.
The local jobcentre team have the flexibility and discretion to make awards through Flexible Support Fund (FSF) that will enhance the employment prospects of the claimants and other customers with whom they are engaged. This includes single parents. Payments of FSF are discussed with the claimant on an individual basis as part of the support provided by Work Coaches on a day-to-day basis as part of the Jobcentre Plus offer.
Financial assistance for childcare costs is available to eligible parents undertaking activity to move them closer to the labour market or into work. Work Coaches regularly discuss support available during their interactions with claimants which includes support available for upfront childcare costs through FSF.
The jobcentre team continue to work with local employers to deliver Sector Work Based Academy Programmes (SWAPs) in various sectors including care, construction, and education. SWAP’s deliver short vocational training linked directly to vacancies within a particular employer or in a specific sector, helping customers to learn the skills and behaviours that employers in particular industries look for.
In additional the team are working in partnership with local organisations including Blackpool Council, Blackpool and Fylde College, and the Blackpool Football Club Community Trust, to provide a range of employment support programmes in the community.
Asked by: Sam Tarry (Labour - Ilford South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to help protect women and girls in (a) the home environment and (b) public places who are at risk of domestic violence.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government is committed to tackling violence against women and girls in all its forms. The landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021 established a wide-ranging statutory definition of domestic abuse that incorporates a range of abusive behaviours beyond physical violence, and brings in important new protections including Domestic Abuse Protection Notices (DAPNs) and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) to provide flexible, longer-term protection for victims from all forms of domestic abuse.
Accompanying this legislation, in July 2022 the Government published detailed statutory guidance outlining the many forms domestic abuse can take to ensure that domestic abuse is properly understood by public agencies seeking to tackle this abhorrent crime and provide adequate support to victims.
In July 2021, the cross-Government Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy was published to help ensure that women and girls are safe everywhere - at home, online and on the streets. In March 2022 we published a complementary Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan in March 2022 which seeks to transform the whole of society’s response to prevent offending, support victims, pursue perpetrators. In the Plan, Government committed to:
To help protect women and girls in public places and raise awareness of VAWG, in March 2022, the Government launched the ‘Enough’ communications campaign which seeks to change public attitudes and tolerance towards crimes such as public sexual harassment and to help create an atmosphere in which women and girls can report such crimes to the police with confidence.
These measures will strengthen protections and support for women and girls at home and in public places, who are at risk of domestic violence and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.