The welfare reform White Paper announced on 12 December by James Purnell, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which sets out plans to provide increased support to people experiencing complex barriers to work, is warmly supported by Remploy.
The White Paper, entitled ‘Raising expectations and increasing support: Reforming welfare for the future' proposes increased support for unemployed people to overcome problems in return for greater responsibility.
Beth Carruther's Remploy's Director of Employment Services said: "The welfare reform White Paper is any important step in ensuring that disabled people are offered the right level of personalised support, training and specialist services to help them secure sustainable mainstream employment."
Last year Remploy found jobs in mainstream employment for 6,500 people with a range of physical, sensory and mental disabilities. Its network of town and city centre recruitment branches provides specialist recruitment services to people experiencing complex barriers to work.
They place emphasis on working with partners to deliver innovative solutions that meet local labour market needs; an approach strongly recommended in the White Paper.
Ms. Carruthers continued: "Remploy supports the Government's plans to step up the support on offer to unemployed disabled people. We will continue to support people to realise their potential and are determined to ensure that during the economic downturn disabled people and others with a health condition are afforded the same opportunities as anybody else."