Welfare to Work

– Work Choice is launched!!

Work Choice, the employment programme for those with severe disabilities, was launched by the Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller today.

The programme will support approximately 23,000 severely disabled people each year – more than any of its predecessor Government programmes.

Across the country the help previously available has been patchy and fragmented with over 200 separate contracts.  Work Choice will operate more efficiently, with just 28 contracts with Prime Providers.

The programme is available on a voluntary basis, and open to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria. It will sit alongside the new Work Programme which becomes available early next year.

Work Choice, which has been developed in close consultation with disability groups and disabled people, will greatly improve the effectiveness of current programmes by tailoring support to the needs of each person to help them find employment and then progress and stay in work.

Providers will also have the flexibility to agree with the customer what kind of support they need. This can include help with CV writing and applying for jobs. It can also progress to supporting people as they get used to going to work and will offer coaching in specific tasks as well as working with employers and co-workers to teach them how to adapt tasks so that a disabled person can continue to be employed.

Contracts have been awarded across 28 Contract Package Areas (CPAs) in England, Scotland and Wales to:

  • Shaw Trust
  • Working Links
  • The Pluss Organisation
  • Advance Housing and Support
  • SEETEC
  • Ingeus UK Ltd
  • CDG-WISE Ability Ltd
  • Momentum
  • Remploy Employment Service in 24 CPAs across England, Scotland and Wales.

See full DWP press release here

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