Q2 - What Support is available to me as an employer to help me employ blind, partially sighted and disabled people?

The short answer is plenty - as long as you know where and how to access it.

The Government will pay up to 100% of the agreed additional costs of employing a disabled person going into a new job and up to 80% of the agreed additional costs of retaining a disabled member of staff who is already in place for more than six weeks. This is done through a scheme called "Access to Work". These agreed additional costs can cover items such as essential equipment for a disabled person, adaptations to lighting or premises, and transport to and from work if needed.

To be an agreed cost a particular procedure is followed. An assessor chosen by Access to Work will visit the disabled person starting work. The assessor, the individual and a suitable person from the new employer, e.g. an occupational health representative, line manager or human resources representative will discuss the equipment or support that may be needed by the particular individual and a report with costing produced for Jobcentreplus.

A summary of the findings is sent to the employer. The costs involved are the agreed costs. This is not an easy way to get a new computer - it only provides the cost of things that are needed specifically because of the individual's disability - not things that are provided normally to everyone else.

Access to Work

Access to Work is run by Jobcentre Plus and can be approached at a local level. The scheme provides advice and practical support to disabled people and employers to help overcome work related obstacles resulting from a disability. Grants are usually paid towards meeting any extra costs that an employer can incur as a result of employing a person with a disability.

Benefits for Employers

Access to Work is an effective way of ensuring that no employer incurs additional financial costs as a result of employing people with disabilities. It is also an ongoing scheme and revisits clients every three years to ensure that any changes to a disabled person's disability are accounted for in their support, or if the person changes jobs or their job description is substantially altered. Employers can also use the scheme to support an existing employee who develops a disability.

The money Access to Work makes available can be used to help pay for:

• Adaptations to premises and equipment
• Communication support for interviews
• Special aids and equipment
• Support workers
• Travel
• Awareness training

These are only examples and possibilities.

Who will buy the Help Needed?

Once an assessment has been done Access to Work will agree what help can be provided. It is the employers responsibility to purchase or provide the support then claim the costs back. No purchase should be made until this has been agreed by Access to Work.

How Much Money is Available?

Access to Work pays up to100% of the approved disability specific cost for;

• Unemployed people with a job to start
• People changing jobs
• Self-employed people

For people working who have been in place for six weeks or more a proportion of the costs will be covered (up to 80%) and this also applies to those changing jobs with their current employers. It is important that applications for funding are made as soon as it is apparent that this support is needed to ensure that Access to Work provides as much help as possible.

How to Apply

Contact your local Access to Work Business Centre Locate

The employee themselves will have to complete the initial application, in consultation with the employer which will result in an assessment to decide what is needed. To begin this process simply contact the local Access to Work Business Centre and ask for Form ATW1 to be sent to you.

Workstep

Workstep is another process offering job support to some blind and partially sighted people. This support directly benefits employers. Workstep can also assist blind people or people losing their sight already in work Workstep can be contacted through your local Disability Employment Advisor at Jobcentreplus. Possible services accessed via Workstep include wage subsidy, training and development support, (including funding for training). job coaching, enabling a blind, partially sighted or disabled person to receive one-to-one assistance for a limited period, to access the building and facilities, adapt systems and develop new ways of working.

Work Trial

Work trial gives an employer a chance to try out a possible employee for three weeks at no cost and without them fearing the loss of benefits. Eligibility is checked by Jobcentreplus but to qualify the blind, partially sighted or disabled person will have been unemployed for 6 months before your job offer is made.

Job Introduction Scheme

This is another method to use to trial a disabled person for a job. It provides a wage subsidy to an employer if that employer has significant doubts about the ability of the possible employee to do the job. A wage subsidy of £75 per week is paid to the employer for between 6-13 weeks. This is agreed by the local JobcentrePlus Disability Employment Adviser.

New Deal for Disabled People

Employers will also want to be aware of the support and help available under New Deal for Disabled People.