Connect to Work under microscope in disabled persons employment support inquiry session
MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee will examine the design and implementation of the Government’s flagship disability employment support programme - Connect to Work – in a session with organisations tasked with its delivery.
Meeting details
Past examples of policies to improve access and opportunities for disabled people to work will also be appraised for their impacts on employment rates and welfare spending with leading academic experts in the area.
Connect to Work provides more intensive advice and assistance to eligible people, including disabled people. It is operated by combined and local authorities partnering with employers, Jobcentres and other private and third-sector employment support providers. The programme has so far been rolled out in West London, Greater Lancashire and Kent among others. However, criticisms of the programme include that its structure could exclude smaller, more specialized organisations from roles in delivery and that it is not focusing enough on job retention.