Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training is provided for frontline staff of his Department on working with people with mental health issues.

DWP Frontline staff are trained in the skills required to support a range of claimants and to respect their individual needs. This ensures they are skilled to deal with a diverse set of circumstances including those with mental ill health, whilst recognising the need to treat everyone as individuals.

Frontline advisers have a comprehensive and progressive training programme which is regularly reviewed. This learning focuses on raising awareness of the individual’s personal circumstances, including disabilities and health conditions which can affect individuals in different ways. Within the learning, frontline advisers are also signposted to further guidance and specialist sources of information.