The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed the available support following a parliamentary question from Labour MP Chris Evans, who asked what action was being taken to support workers’ mental health in Wales. The response comes alongside a government-backed report examining barriers faced by neurodivergent people at work.
Four Government Programmes Aim To Improve Workplace Support
DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms identified four existing initiatives: Disability Confident, Access to Work, Keep Britain Working and the Support with Employee Health and Disability service.
According to Wales Online, the minister explained that these programmes are intended to help employers recruit, retain and support people experiencing mental health difficulties or living with conditions such as autism and ADHD.
The Disability Confident scheme operates throughout the UK, including Wales, and encourages businesses to adopt more inclusive recruitment and employment practices. More than 1,000 participating employers are based in Wales, with their membership details published monthly on GOV.UK.
Access to Work provides personalised assistance, including workplace assessments, specialist equipment, support workers and help with travel costs. Its Mental Health Support Service can also offer up to nine months of non-clinical assistance to employees requiring additional support.
Meanwhile, the Support with Employee Health and Disability service offers employers guidance on managing absences, discussing health conditions and making reasonable workplace adjustments. Keep Britain Working focuses on helping people with long-term health conditions remain employed. Its Vanguard Phase is testing different approaches, while work is under way with the British Standards Institution to develop guidance for employers.
The programmes address an employment gap highlighted by government figures. The employment rate among disabled autistic people was reported at just 31%, compared with 54.7% for disabled people overall.
New Neurodiversity Report Calls for Changes to Workplace Practices
The announcement follows the publication of an independent academic panel’s report on 2 October 2026, examining how employers and policymakers can improve employment opportunities for neurodivergent people.
According to the DWP’s Expert Academic Panel on Neurodiversity, workplace support should respond to an individual’s practical needs rather than depend primarily on a formal diagnosis.
Chaired by Professor Amanda Kirby, the panel examined recruitment barriers, workplace adjustments, career progression and the challenges associated with conditions including autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia.
Its recommendations include introducing a two-week deadline for employers to respond to reasonable adjustment requests, reforming Disability Confident and increasing resources for Access to Work to reduce application backlogs. The panel also recommended improvements to workplace accessibility, including quieter environments, flexible working arrangements and clearer communication.
According to Wales Online, Sir Stephen said the department was continuing to work with employers and stakeholders to determine how the recommendations could be translated into practical action. He also distinguished neurodivergence from mental illness, while acknowledging that neurodivergent people may experience overlapping mental health difficulties.
The government’s approach therefore covers both existing employment assistance and ongoing work to improve workplace inclusion. The academic panel’s recommendations remain proposals, while the four programmes outlined by the minister represent support already available or being developed.
