ACCESS TO WORK

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Conference
2007 National Disabled Members' Conference
Date
6 July 2007
Decision
Carried as Amended

This Conference notes that many disabled people receive funding from Access to Work (ATW) to employ a support worker or reader. This means that the person in receipt of ATW has the same legal responsibilities as all employers, such as having in place grievance and disciplinary policies/procedures, providing an employment contract, sorting out tax and national insurance etc. There is very little advice and support provided by Job Centre Plus or the Department of Work and Pensions to help meet these responsibilities. What advice there is available differs widely around the country.

This Conference believes that all disabled people in this position should have the support and advice they need to enable them to be fair employers who are meeting their legal duties. This conference instructs the NDMC to work with other organisations of disabled people and any other organisations that represent disabled peoples rights to lobby the government to ensure that advice and support is available throughout the UK to meet these needs.

Conference does not have the confidence in Government’s ability to positively promote and publicise “Access to Work”. We therefore resolve to instruct the National Disabled Members Committee to seek funding, support and sponsorship for an effective publicity campaign publicising “Access to Work” to both our members and employers alike.