Age, Employability

1
Age, Employability Health

• Some UK Developments

2
SWOOP Strands

• Employers Strand, with Workshops, Action Learning
  Sets, Broker Training to
• Combat workplace age discrimination
• Prepare employers for legislation
• Skills and Learning, with six Action Research
  Projects to
• Help older workers become or remain economically
  active
• Provide IAG and development
• E-Portfolio, with Pilot Site Development to
• Test and develop on-line assessment and
  development tool targeted at older workers.

3
National Developments

• Welfare Reform Green Paper
• Consultation Document
• Targeting Incapacity Benefit Claimants

4
Trend on numbers receiving benefits 1979-2005
Source DWP Nov 2006
5
Reported Conditions for IB Claimants
Mental Disorder 35
Musculo-skeletal 22
Injury 6
Nervous system 10
Circulatory/ respiratory 11
Others 16
Source Pathways to Work, DWP Nov 2004
6
Age distribution of IB Claimants in SW Region
of total
Age
Source DWP, May 2005 Figures
7
Green Paper Proposals

• Reduce IB claimants by 1,000,000
• Restructuring benefits for new claimants
• Improve work-place health
• Work-focused interviews and work-related
  activities
• Shift focus for entitlement from incapacity to
  capability
• Work with GPs to reduce sick notes issued, locate
  employment advisers in clinics

8
Green Paper Proposals

• Extend Pathways to Work to all of England and
  Wales
• For Older People
• Extend New Deal for 25 plus to include people
  over 50 additional job-seeking support
• Face-to-face guidance sessions
• Additional back-to-work support
• Programme delivered through sub-contractors

9
Local Development

• South Devon ESF Objective 3 Project Fit for
  Work, Health Plus
• IB claimants over 25
• 3 month fitness regime
• Gym or leisure centre membership
• Or Yoga or similar
• Confidence building, motivation
• Job-search workshops