House of Lords inquiry looks at support for young disabled people moving from education to employment

The House of Lords Public Services Committee held a ministerial evidence sessions as part of its continuing inquiry examining the range of issues surrounding the transition of young, disabled people from education to employment.

The session, which took place on 17 April, focused on the types of support available for young, disabled people including educational support and workplace support such as internships and apprenticeships and also support available for employers.

Those who gave evidence included:

• Mims Davies MP, Minister of State (Minister for Disabled people, Health and Work), Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• Lorraine Jackson CBE, Director, DWP and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Joint Work & Health Directorate, DHSC

Questions the committee planned to ask included:

• A consistent theme throughout the inquiry has been the absence of specialist careers advice for young disabled people at all stages. How will the Department for Education ensure that disabled students are receiving quality careers advice and education to facilitate transitions into employment? How will education providers be held to account?

• How does support on the transition to employment differ between a) children with Education, Health and Care Plans, and b) children with special educational needs but no EHCP?

• What steps is the Department for Education taking to ensure curriculum and assessment reforms meet the needs of young disabled pupils?

• Throughout this inquiry the committee has heard of frustration about the lack of joined up thinking between government departments regarding the support young disabled people receive during the transition from education to employment, with many young disabled people facing a ‘cliff-edge’ when they leave education. How are the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions addressing this?

• What steps are the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions taking to ensure young disabled people receive high quality support during the transition from education to employment, ideally before they become unemployed?

• What steps is the government taking to improve existing schemes’ support for young disabled people?

• How is the Department for Work and Pensions planning to improve and reform the Disability Confident scheme and when are these reforms expected to be implemented?