Journeys to Access to Work
This report summarises applicants’ and employers’ experiences of Access to Work, their perceptions of its impact and recommendations for improvement.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Documents
Details
This report summarises applicants’ and employers’ journeys to Access to Work (AtW), their experiences of the application process and delivery of the scheme, perceptions of its impact and recommendations for improvement.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) commissioned The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to conduct a qualitative research study to better understand:
- how applicants and employers become aware of Access to Work (AtW)
- what factors influence a person’s decision to apply
- how individual needs, circumstances and employer interactions shape their journey through the scheme
The research aims to strengthen understanding of experiences before, during and after application. This includes how AtW operates in addition to and beyond reasonable adjustments and other sources of workplace or external support.
Contribution to the evidence base
There are currently significant gaps in evidence on the effectiveness of the AtW scheme, and the factors which influence a person’s decision to apply. This research fills key evidence gaps, particularly in relation to the customer journey and motivations for applying, interactions with reasonable adjustments, and perceived impact of the scheme. The findings will inform policy decisions on the future of AtW.
The research aligns with the recommendations from NatCen’s 2018 feasibility report to:
- understand better the triggers and trajectories of the recipient’s journey into an AtW claim and approval
- get a better understanding of employers’ use of reasonable adjustments and how this interacts with AtW claims and approvals
This will help to refine the scope for any future evaluation.
This research complements existing research and official statistics by providing detailed qualitative insight into applicant and employer experiences. It serves to contextualise administrative trends and explains how operational and policy challenges are experienced across the AtW journey, strengthening the overall evidence base for policy and service delivery.
Research value
The findings from this report will inform policy and service delivery by improving understanding of the journeys and support needs experienced by Access to Work customers, and the ways in which employers engage throughout the process.