Latest News
Here are the latest developments in the Changing Lives project:
Changing Lives Employment and Disability Network
The Changing Lives Employment and Disability Network has now been established in Lancaster district. The network can be contacted at One Voice, The Cornerstone, Sulyard Street, Lancaster on 01524 382800 or through e-mailing joanne.onevoice@btconnect.com
The advisory group for the network is made up of a number of organisations and individuals. The advisory group then reports to the Lancaster and Morecambe Disability Forum and of course to the Principal of Lancaster & Morecambe College. The work of the project has been supported and facilitated by Disability LIB at Preston Disc and funding was received by the college from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.
International Day of Disabled People
Lancaster and Morecambe College is set to sponsor the International Day of Disabled People this year on December 3rd.There will be a seminar at the college during the day, followed by a performance from top comedian Laurence Clark at The Cartmel Centre, Euston Road, Morecambe.
Event Schedule | Comedy Event poster
Employment and Support Allowance
Employment and support allowance (ESA) is a new benefit paid if your ability to work is limited by ill health or disability and you are claiming after 27 October 2008. It replaces both incapacity benefit (IB) and income support (IS) paid on the grounds of incapacity. More details here
No more short Changing Lives
The Lancaster & Morecambe College project, Changing Lives will be working partnership with organisations of disabled people, people who have used mental health services and other key players in the area. Changing Lives, funded through the Equalities and Human Rights Commission will establish an Employment and Disability Network in the district. The project will enable disabled people to highlight the barriers that they face when looking for paid work in the district. It will carry out a survey in the district to see what particular kind of help is out there for disabled people who are looking for work or facing discrimination at work as well as developing ideas on future services.
'People with physical impairments and other conditions, such as mental health issues face a wide range of barriers when trying to get paid work or maintain employment', said David Wood, Principal of Lancaster & Morecambe College.These include attitudinal barriers, for example among employers and disabled people themselves; organisational barriers and environmental barriers. The cumulative effect of these barriers often results in the marginalisation of disabled people from the mainstream of our economy and community'.
There are about 12,000 people claiming some sort of benefit in the district with over 6,000 claiming incapacity benefit. 'There is a much higher incidence of ill health and disability in more deprived wards', said Judith Stephenson, project manager. 'There is support for disabled people and people with mental health issues out there but, however they still find it difficult to find paid work. This project intends to address these issues in the long term by working with disabled people themselves and their organisations'.
If you are a disabled person and want to know more about the project you can contact Soheila or Nicole at One Voice on 01524 382800 or e-mail Judith Stephenson
Equalities and Human Rights Commission –Employment and Disability Network
Changing Lives now part of Lancaster & Morecambe College has been awarded a grant from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission to work with local disability and mental health groups in the district to establish an Employment and Disability network.
The Changing Lives research project highlighted the barriers that disabled people face when trying to access paid work in the district. Employment support agencies working with disabled people and those who have or have had mental health problems reported that notwithstanding the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 people are still facing stigma and attitudinal barriers when looking for work.
The project will enable organisations to come together to work on behalf of disabled people and those with mental health problems to tackle this issue locally. The project will survey what support is out there, formal and informal, make that information available on the Changing Lives information site, bring disabled people together as an advisory group and offer training on the DDA, ‘social model’ issues, disability and employment. By the end of the project the network should be established.`
If you are a disabled person or someone who has had experience of mental distress and are interested in becoming involved, the project can be contacted here.
The Employment and Support Allowance replacing Incapacity Benefit
The Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will be introduced in October 2008, and will replace Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on incapacity grounds for new customers only.
The DWP says it is intended to help individuals with a health condition or are disabled to gain independence from benefits by focusing on what an individual can do rather than what they cannot do - and supports a return to work.
Central to the allowance is a new medical assessment, which looks at what a claimant can do, and not just what they cannot do. All new customers will have to take this test. For most people this will include an interview with a trained doctor or nurse, who will assess his/her condition and how it affects what an individual is able to do. It will also explore what could be done to help the claimant get back to work. People with the most severe levels of disability will not need a face to face interview, their entitlement to benefit will be decided on the basis of paper evidence, for example from their GP or someone in the community who is involved in looking after them.
Most people claiming the Employment and Support Allowance will be expected to take reasonable steps to help prepare for a return to work. To do this, Jobcentre Plus will build on the successful Pathways to Work scheme. Under Pathways individuals have a personal adviser who will be able to discuss with a claimant the full range of support available.
The Employment and Support Allowance will initially be for new customers only. However, those currently on Incapacity benefit and/or income support will be fully eligible for the work-focused help which will be available with the Employment and Support Allowance and can access this on a voluntary basis.
Placing employment advisors in GP surgeries
Research published end May by the Department of Work and Pensions evaluated the effectiveness of a pilot project to locate employment advisers from Job Centre Plus in GPs’ surgeries.
Advisers act as a link between patients at a surgery and the range of services and support available through JobCentre Plus and other organisations
The principal policy aims to provide help and support to Statutory Sick Pay and Incapacity Benefit recipients and foster links between health practitioner and Job Centre.
GPs in the study were enthusiastic and positive about the Pathways Advisory Service. Having direct and easy access to an employment and social security expert allowed them to support their patients in newer and more constructive ways than previously.
Patients referred to the personal adviser were overwhelmingly positive when asked if they thought the meeting was helpful. There was evidence that the intervention of the adviser was an essential catalyst for some people in moving them towards or into work.
Physically locating advisers in GP surgeries was highly valued and considered essential by GPs.
Advisors dealt with a wide range of people beyond the main target population of SSP and long-term Incapacity Benefit recipients, and provided help and support beyond employment advice.