Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what specialist training Work Coaches receive to help people with hidden and fluctuating health conditions (a) find and (b) stay in work.
Training and guidance is provided for work coaches to support customers with fluctuating health conditions to find and stay in work.
They receive health and complex needs learning that provides them with the skills and knowledge to:
In addition, support is also provided for the work coach by the Disability Employment Advisers and Work Psychologists. Work Coaches can refer individuals to personalised provision and support such as the Work and Health Programme (available in England and Wales) or Fair Start Scotland (devolved programme available in Scotland).
Work Coaches have access to further learning in the form of ‘bitesize’ learning and guidance spotlights to refresh and support them. For example:
- a health condition
- become disengaged with the labour market, perhaps, because they have been long term unemployed
- Spotlight: Universal Credit Health Offer published April 2019 – This provides guidance on what is available for customers to support them to and in work. For example, Access to Work, Specialist Employability Support