Consultation outcome

Association of disabled professionals response

Updated 23 March 2020

If DWP have not engaged with you in the past, please answer the following questions:

1. Question 7

In what ways do you think you could have made a valuable and constructive contribution to DWP’s work, and what would be the most effective way for DWP engage with you?

1.1 Response to question 7

It should be focussed on the subject. Not everyone is an expert in everything. For example A disabled people’s user-led organisations (DPULO) may be very experienced in one area but does not have the true expertise in another area. They should be invited for their input on the experience they have. It needs to be very focussed. The large organisations do not always have this detailed insight that many very small DPULOs have this expertise. There needs to be inclusion of all sizes of DPULO’s. There should be a database identifying the expertise. I recognise some DPULO’S may think they are experts across the board on all issues but often they are not. For example Association of Disabled Professionals has expertise in many work issues but cannot profess to be experts in housing, social care, motability etc. ADP would show on the database as a very small national DPULO and very knowledgeable on employment and self-employment issues but nothing else.

2. Question 8

Would you wish to engage with DWP in future? Please provide the reasons for your answer?

2.1 Response to question 8

Yes if they were to listen and note the real issues

3. Question 9

What would be the most effective way for DWP to make sure you could engage with them?

3.1 Response to question 9

Focusing on the subjects of expertise and via email.

4. Question 10

Are there any areas or types of engagement that you would not have with the department?

4.1 Response to question 10

Yes in the areas we have no expertise.

5. Question 11

Please tell us about other engagement you have had on disability issues with public sector or other organisations outside of DWP?

5.1 Response to question 11

For example: HMRC have an additional needs working group where they work with the players on issues such as making tax digital and the support offered to ‘vulnerable clients’. For 12 years we have contributed to various questions and products via face to face, email, access to telephone meetings via a dial in number and advanced comments on the agenda. Please explain the process for this engagement? By invitation and expertise required and being constructive in discussion.

6. Question 12

Do you have any suggestions to develop the process for you to be able to engage with DWP in future?

6.1 Response to question 12

Email contact and in future facetime with subtitles.

7. Question 13

What would be your minimum expectations of who the department should consult, and how that consultation should take place, to provide reassurance that decisions taken by the Department are well-informed and credible?

7.1 Response to question 13

DWP need to be focussed on the subject and include small grass roots DPULO’s, social media pages who have much expertise. Often small DPULO’s are ignored and large organisations are invited only to find points are missed because of their supposed influence.

8. Question 14

Is there any other evidence on this subject you would like to add?

8.1 Response to question 14

To save on travel to meetings some organisations may communicate on telephone/email open to all. If there has to be face to face meetings there is too much focus on meetings in London. Why not in York. Newcastle, Cornwall, Derby, Plymouth, Norwich etc.

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Association of Disabled Professionals