Users' views of Access to Work

Access to Work is a programme for people with long-term health conditions or impairments who need extra practical support to do their job or to take up work. Disability Service Team (DST) staff assess what is required to meet applicants' needs, sometimes drawing on specialist advice. Employers, or users in some cases, obtain and pay for provision approved by the DST, and most costs are reimbursed in full or in part. A national survey comprised face-to-face interviews with 628 Access to Work users, 20 of whom took part in follow-up qualitative interviews. The main aim was to learn from users what works well and what might be improved.