The DWP Review into AtW – Internal Review now underway
22nd September 2014
Mike Penning was the Minister for Disabled People, and was responsible for the AtW scheme. 10th June 2014, following feedback from AtW users and UKCoD members, he said that they will “look into AtW, focusing on how we can support more disabled people and further improve customer service”, and that “30-hour guidance for new claimants” would be suspended.
Responsibility for AtW is now with the Minister of Employment, currently Esther McVey.
Whilst I can’t find any public announcement from DWP or AtW about this, AtW / DWP are now undertaking an internal review. I don’t know when it started, or in any detail what they intend to look at. The only information I can find publically is a short statement about the internal review on the UKCoD website:
“The DWP will be talking to stakeholders in September. That will help them develop a set of measures to suggest to the Minister. The Minister will the decide what to do next, including if there will be any more engagement. … We don’t expect the Minister to make any decisions or an announcement before” the Select Committee publishes its’ finding and recommendations. (From the UKCoD website).
However I understand that they are having at least three meetings with stakeholders as part of the internal review.
AtW Internal Review Stakeholder Workshops.
I understand there are two of these planned, one in London 4/9/14, and a second had or planned at another date / location. Participation was through invitation only and included key stakeholders: users, charities, advisers, and employers.
The stated aims for the meeting were to:
· Consider what changes may be needed to AtW to enable it to continue to support more disabled people.
· Discuss resources, value for money, new technology, the role of employers, high value awards, travel and customer service.
I don't have any information about who actually attended, or what was discussed.
If you were involved, and feel it is appropriate to say more about these meetings, please let me know, and I will share the information.
Deaf communication marketplace roundtable.
Taking place 25/9/14, this has been organised by the Business Disability Forum, and is intended for invited key stakeholder’s, including DWP and AtW officials, employers, Deaf service users and experts, and leading suppliers of Deaf communication services.
I will be attending and I’ve been asked to do a 15 minute presentation from “The Multi-Stakeholder Point of View”. I shall be trying to reflect key aspects of the views and experiences of Deaf AtW users, communication professionals, agencies, and employers. I know there’s not much time, but please contact me if there are particular things you think I should be discussing.
At the moment I understand that whilst it is not confidential that this meeting is taking pace, what is discussed on the day will be, to ensure that people can have an open and honest discussion.
I agree that this is important, but also think that informing stakeholders of what is happening with the review is important. So I will check what feedback I can post to DeafAtW about the event and Internal Review.
Mike Penning was the Minister for Disabled People, and was responsible for the AtW scheme. 10th June 2014, following feedback from AtW users and UKCoD members, he said that they will “look into AtW, focusing on how we can support more disabled people and further improve customer service”, and that “30-hour guidance for new claimants” would be suspended.
Responsibility for AtW is now with the Minister of Employment, currently Esther McVey.
Whilst I can’t find any public announcement from DWP or AtW about this, AtW / DWP are now undertaking an internal review. I don’t know when it started, or in any detail what they intend to look at. The only information I can find publically is a short statement about the internal review on the UKCoD website:
“The DWP will be talking to stakeholders in September. That will help them develop a set of measures to suggest to the Minister. The Minister will the decide what to do next, including if there will be any more engagement. … We don’t expect the Minister to make any decisions or an announcement before” the Select Committee publishes its’ finding and recommendations. (From the UKCoD website).
However I understand that they are having at least three meetings with stakeholders as part of the internal review.
AtW Internal Review Stakeholder Workshops.
I understand there are two of these planned, one in London 4/9/14, and a second had or planned at another date / location. Participation was through invitation only and included key stakeholders: users, charities, advisers, and employers.
The stated aims for the meeting were to:
· Consider what changes may be needed to AtW to enable it to continue to support more disabled people.
· Discuss resources, value for money, new technology, the role of employers, high value awards, travel and customer service.
I don't have any information about who actually attended, or what was discussed.
If you were involved, and feel it is appropriate to say more about these meetings, please let me know, and I will share the information.
Deaf communication marketplace roundtable.
Taking place 25/9/14, this has been organised by the Business Disability Forum, and is intended for invited key stakeholder’s, including DWP and AtW officials, employers, Deaf service users and experts, and leading suppliers of Deaf communication services.
I will be attending and I’ve been asked to do a 15 minute presentation from “The Multi-Stakeholder Point of View”. I shall be trying to reflect key aspects of the views and experiences of Deaf AtW users, communication professionals, agencies, and employers. I know there’s not much time, but please contact me if there are particular things you think I should be discussing.
At the moment I understand that whilst it is not confidential that this meeting is taking pace, what is discussed on the day will be, to ensure that people can have an open and honest discussion.
I agree that this is important, but also think that informing stakeholders of what is happening with the review is important. So I will check what feedback I can post to DeafAtW about the event and Internal Review.
Ministerial Statement re 'looking at' AtW - and reminder to get your evidence in to the Select Committee.
10th June 2014
The Minister's Statement re the 'review' was made today. I've copied two key passages below.
"I want to continue to build on this success so that Access to Work can support more claimants per year. That is why I have asked that over a three month period, we now look into Access to Work, focusing on how we can support more disabled people and further improve customer service. I will set out further details on next steps shortly."
In other words, it doesn't say anything at all about what this will be, it doesn't even say if it is a review. Will it be external or internal, will it take your evidence or any evidence, who will run it, what will it look at? We don't know yet, and don't know when we will know.
"Whilst we undertake this work I am also suspending Access to Work’s 30-hour guidance for new claimants. This operational guidance stated that if a Support Worker is required full-time, for example 30 hours or more a week, Access to Work will normally provide funding on the basis of an annual salary rather than a freelance rate. Having listened to concerns about its practical effect, notably on the ability of some deaf customers to source appropriate British Sign Language support, this guidance will not be applied to new cases pending the completion of this work."
It's good that new applicants won't have the 30 hour guidance imposed on them, but this statement doesn't mention the review for people who already have had this imposed. See below for what's happening with those reviews.
The Minister's Statement re the 'review' was made today. I've copied two key passages below.
"I want to continue to build on this success so that Access to Work can support more claimants per year. That is why I have asked that over a three month period, we now look into Access to Work, focusing on how we can support more disabled people and further improve customer service. I will set out further details on next steps shortly."
In other words, it doesn't say anything at all about what this will be, it doesn't even say if it is a review. Will it be external or internal, will it take your evidence or any evidence, who will run it, what will it look at? We don't know yet, and don't know when we will know.
"Whilst we undertake this work I am also suspending Access to Work’s 30-hour guidance for new claimants. This operational guidance stated that if a Support Worker is required full-time, for example 30 hours or more a week, Access to Work will normally provide funding on the basis of an annual salary rather than a freelance rate. Having listened to concerns about its practical effect, notably on the ability of some deaf customers to source appropriate British Sign Language support, this guidance will not be applied to new cases pending the completion of this work."
It's good that new applicants won't have the 30 hour guidance imposed on them, but this statement doesn't mention the review for people who already have had this imposed. See below for what's happening with those reviews.
Minister for Disabled people announces review of impact of AtW on Deaf people and suspends 30 hour 'rule' for the duration of the review
15 May 2014
"The Minister for Disabled People, Mike Penning MP, has today announced a review of the impact of Access to Work on deaf people.
The three month review will take place over the summer and involve key organisations working with and for deaf people. We hope that Deaf people, employers and interpreters will be able to submit evidence directly to the DWP Review, as well as through organisations. If you agree, contact UKCoD, BDA, AoHL etc, and ask them to tell the Minister that this is what you need.
In a meeting with representatives of the UK Council on Deafness, the Minister also suspended the rule that has restricted deaf people’s access to communication support such as sign language interpreters.
The ’30 hour rule’ will not be applied to any new claims to Access to Work during the review. And anyone whose support was reduced due to the application of the rule can have it reviewed."
DeafATW's comment:
But it is only a 3 month suspension of the 30 hour 'rule' for Deaf people. One way to see if they mean what they say is to watch and see how quickly AtW process reviews for people already negatively affected by the 30 hour 'rule'.
If you've been affected by the 30 hour review, continue with your complaint as it probably is about more than just this issue, put the minister's statement to the test, and contact AtW asap to ask them to review you AtW package in light of the minister's announcement today. I'd also ask them what the time scale is for the review.
Let us know how this new review goes, and whether AtW attitudes have changed. If you want to remain anonymous, contact me at DeafATW.com and I'll do it for you.
However in the short term this doesn't address all the other issues, the bullying, back dating of changes, arbitrary restrictions, etc.
It is also really important that Deaf AtW users contribute to the Select Committee inquiry, and the AtW inquiry. This isn't the war won, but maybe a battle of strategic importance, if we can take advantage of it.
We'll also need to wait to see if this is a meaningful review, genuinely looking at Deaf people's work needs, and involving Deaf AtW users appropriately, or just a stalling for time strategy.
"The Minister for Disabled People, Mike Penning MP, has today announced a review of the impact of Access to Work on deaf people.
The three month review will take place over the summer and involve key organisations working with and for deaf people. We hope that Deaf people, employers and interpreters will be able to submit evidence directly to the DWP Review, as well as through organisations. If you agree, contact UKCoD, BDA, AoHL etc, and ask them to tell the Minister that this is what you need.
In a meeting with representatives of the UK Council on Deafness, the Minister also suspended the rule that has restricted deaf people’s access to communication support such as sign language interpreters.
The ’30 hour rule’ will not be applied to any new claims to Access to Work during the review. And anyone whose support was reduced due to the application of the rule can have it reviewed."
DeafATW's comment:
But it is only a 3 month suspension of the 30 hour 'rule' for Deaf people. One way to see if they mean what they say is to watch and see how quickly AtW process reviews for people already negatively affected by the 30 hour 'rule'.
If you've been affected by the 30 hour review, continue with your complaint as it probably is about more than just this issue, put the minister's statement to the test, and contact AtW asap to ask them to review you AtW package in light of the minister's announcement today. I'd also ask them what the time scale is for the review.
Let us know how this new review goes, and whether AtW attitudes have changed. If you want to remain anonymous, contact me at DeafATW.com and I'll do it for you.
However in the short term this doesn't address all the other issues, the bullying, back dating of changes, arbitrary restrictions, etc.
It is also really important that Deaf AtW users contribute to the Select Committee inquiry, and the AtW inquiry. This isn't the war won, but maybe a battle of strategic importance, if we can take advantage of it.
We'll also need to wait to see if this is a meaningful review, genuinely looking at Deaf people's work needs, and involving Deaf AtW users appropriately, or just a stalling for time strategy.