Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to improve the career opportunities for people with learning disabilities through the care support they receive.

The Care Act 2014 encourages local authorities to ensure the right level of provision for all residents to encourage good health and wellbeing, which includes supporting access to employment. The promotion of independence, such as the opportunity for employment, should be a central aim of good social care.

We are delivering and improving Access to Work to support any necessary workplace adjustments for those with a learning disability. We have invested £7.2 million in Local Supported Employment services, enabling local authorities to support social care users with learning disabilities and autistic people to access and remain in employment. Up to £18 million has also been made available over the next three years to build capacity and strengthen the Supported Internships programme, with the aim of supporting more young people with Education, Health and Care plans into employment.