Old story, new beginnings

Politicians, charities and job experts came together last month to discuss how to help more disabled people into work. Elizabeth Choppin reports

The minister for disabled people has told benefits and employment experts and a handful of disability organisations that the government’s welfare reform plans are crucial for tackling the “blight of inactivity” in some incapacity benefit (IB) claimants.

Anne McGuire’s comments – amid continuing concerns from disabled people about the government’s welfare reform plans – came at a conference organised by the Unum Beginnings campaign to discuss the best ways to break down the barriers between disabled people and employment.

It took place just a day after the Chancellor announced in last month’s Budget that all long-term IB claimants would from 2010 have to undergo the new work capability assessments (WCA) – veering away from previous statements that the WCA would only apply to new claimants.

Ms McGuire said the WCA would be introduced over three years from 2010 and that it was a necessary tool to tackle “generational inactivity” and to help disabled people who wanted to work.

Liz Sayce (pictured), chief executive from Radar, called at the conference for far better joint working between employers and disabled people, saying that individuals should be more involved in negotiating solutions and “knowing what is possible”.

She added: “Personalisation of services means you as employee knowing your own requirements, negotiating with your manager for adjustments, drawing on individual budgets, Access to Work, the support of employment providers and health and social care – to suit your requirements.”

Paul Jenkins, chief executive of mental health charity Rethink, said: “We agree with the general thrust of the plans but we’re concerned that the right kind of support will not be available. What works for some disabled people might not work for others, especially people with mental health issues.”

Shadow disability spokesman Mark Harper MP told the conference that a Conservative welfare reform programme would mean a work assessment for all benefits claimants and a “payment by results” system for employment agencies.

Danny Alexander MP, shadow work and pensions secretary for the Liberal Democrats, called for one single working-age benefit, more involvement for voluntary and private sector organisations, and robust government support for claimants making a transition into work.

Mr Alexander said: “If claimants are expected to take responsibility, then government also has to take responsibility.”

Rob MacKenzie, director of strategy and transformation for BT Business, said there was a very strong business case for employers to offer flexible working, which would, among other things, allow adjustments for disabled people, and so capitalise on an untapped pool of talent. He said seven out of 10 BT employees use flexible working.