The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that Support Conversations will now be available at a further 27 Jobcentres, increasing the total number of participating sites from six to 33. According to the DWP, the expansion forms part of the Government’s wider £3.5 billion investment intended to support disabled people and those with health conditions into employment during this Parliament.
The hour-long sessions are entirely voluntary and are intended for people awaiting a Work Capability Assessment after declaring a health condition or disability, as well as those who have already been assessed as having Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA). Unlike routine Jobcentre appointments, the conversations are designed to take a broader view of an individual’s circumstances rather than concentrating solely on employment.
Voluntary Sessions Aim to Address Wider Barriers Beyond Employment
Support Conversations are intended to provide personalised, one-to-one discussions that explore a range of issues affecting an individual’s ability to move into work or other meaningful activities, including volunteering. According to the DWP, participants may be signposted towards support relating to health, debt, housing, skills, employment and rehabilitation services, including drug and alcohol support where appropriate.
The conversations can take place face to face, by telephone or through video appointments. They are delivered by Healthcare Professionals, Disability Employment Advisers and, as part of the expanded programme, Pathways to Work Advisers will also begin conducting the sessions.
Employment Minister Dame Diana Johnson said too many disabled people and people with health conditions continue to face barriers that prevent them from accessing support and opportunities. She said expanding the programme to 33 Jobcentres would provide up to 40,000 people with personalised support tailored to their individual circumstances and would contribute to the Government’s Plan for Change by helping more people move into good work.
Expansion Follows Early Testing Across Six Jobcentres
The wider rollout follows testing at six Jobcentres, where early feedback indicated that participants felt “listened to” and “supported”. According to the Department for Work and Pensions, the expansion will continue to be evaluated through the involvement of healthcare professionals, disability employment advisers and Pathways to Work Advisers.
The confirmed locations include Aberdare, Berwick Upon Tweed, Blaydon, Bournemouth, Didsbury, Glenrothes, Grimsby, Hoxton, Lancaster, Leeds Park Place, Leicester Charles Street, Leicester Wellington Street, North Shields, Northwich, Preston, Rusholme, Saltcoats, Shettleston, South Shields, Southend, Sparkhill, Springburn, Sunderland, Thornaby, Wester Hailes, Whitehaven and Workington. The department also said that six further sites will be confirmed separately.
According to the DWP, the Support Conversations programme sits alongside other measures within the Government’s employment support package, including Connect to Work, WorkWell, the Right to Try policy and the deployment of 1,000 Pathways to Work Advisers. The department said more than 65,000 sick and disabled people have already received support from those advisers, while the expansion of Support Conversations will continue to be monitored as the programme develops.
