There have been deep cuts to the numbers of full-time specialist disability employment advisors posted in Jobcentres, new figures show.
Between 2011 and 2015 the number of Jobcentres employing a full-time advisor to help disabled people navigate the support system and find employment fell by over 60 per cent from 226 to just 90, with reductions in every recorded year.
Charities say the specialist advisors are crucial for people with disabilities who have to navigate the support system and that their reduction will undermine the Government’s own goal of getting people in to work.
But the Government is intent on reducing the numbers of disability advisors and instead wants disabled people to be dealt with by general non-specialist “work coaches” as part of its Universal Credit programme.
The cut to specialist employment support for people with disabilities comes despite Iain Duncan Smith telling the group they should be working their…
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