Expansion of programme to help people back into work
Angela Smith, Minister for Employment and Learning, today announced an expansion of the ‘Pathways to Work’ pilot initiative.
This interdepartmental initiative, which will now be extended to the Newry, Enniskillen and Newtownabbey areas, is designed to help people with health conditions or disabilities move closer to the labour market or into employment.
During a visit to Ballymoney, the Minister met staff from the local Jobs & Benefits Office and the Health Service, hearing how the service was already being developed and implemented in the Ballymoney area.
Commenting on the potential of Pathways to Work to transform the lives of people who have become dependent on welfare, Angela Smith said:
“For most people, the best route out of poverty and social exclusion is through work. Pathways to Work is designed to provide the support that will help many, who have manageable health conditions and disabilities, to move into employment and away from welfare dependency.
“This initiative has the potential to improve the lives of many people and their families and will benefit society and the economy as a whole.”
Announcing plans for expansion of the initiative, the Minister said:
“Resources have been made available through the Skills and Science Fund to expand the initiative to cover one third of people who make a new claim for Incapacity Benefit in Northern Ireland by the end of this year. The first phase of expansion will happen later this month when the initiative will be extended to Newry, Enniskillen and Newtownabbey. A second phase of expansion will take place in the Autumn.”
The Pathways to Work initiative is delivered jointly by the Department for Employment and Learning, the Social Security Agency within the Department for Social Development and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Health Minister Shaun Woodward said:
“I welcome Angela Smith’s announcement today. My Department has been closely involved in developing one of the key components of the Pathways to Work initiative – ‘The Condition Management Programme’. This programme, as its name suggests, is designed to help people with mild to moderate health conditions or disabilities better understand their condition and to develop strategies for managing that condition in the context of work.”
Social Development Minister, David Hanson, also welcomed the announcement. He said:
“I have been impressed by the ability of the staff in three different departments, with very different and wide-ranging responsibilities, to work together to deliver this important initiative. Government is determined to reduce poverty and social exclusion. Helping people to become economically independent is one of the best ways to achieve this. Of course we appreciate that for some people, particularly those with more severe conditions, a return to work will not be an option. Financial support will continue to be provided for these people without imposing any additional qualifying conditions.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Pathways to Work is a new service to help people with health problems or disabilities into work. It provides a new and comprehensive framework of practical and financial help and support, to help people with health and disability related barriers find employment.
2 .In Northern Ireland there are over 112,000 people receiving Incapacity Benefits. This represents 10.7% of the working age population.
3. The new service has been available in Ballymoney, Lurgan and Magherafelt Jobs & Benefits offices since 3 October 2005 and will be extended to Newry, Enniskillen and Newtownabbey on 24 April. An announcement about the third phase of expansion will be made later in the year.
4. The Pathways process includes faster Incapacity Benefit claims processing to allow claimants to then concentrate on the work focused elements of the service which are delivered by specially trained personal advisers. These are:
- a better framework of work-focused interviews for all new claimants (up to six rather than current practice which is one only);
- improved referrals to Disablement Employment Programmes;
- new work-focused rehabilitation programmes in conjunction with Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety;
- clearer incentives to try work, including a new Return to Work Credit; and
- better support for those moving off incapacity benefits onto Job Seekers Allowance.
5. Although the series of interviews is mandatory, the Pathways Personal Adviser has the discretion to waive or defer them if appropriate. All the choices on offer are entirely voluntary and clients are not put under pressure to participate in any of the options or forced into work.
6. The pilot will run until March 2008.
7. Media enquiries to Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.