From my own experience, I have become increasingly alarmed at how within Access to Work there seems to be an increase general widespread use of the language about how Access to Work is discretionary. It is laudable to accept this at face value otherwise inconsistencies in decision making and who gets what funding occurs. Credit to the Deaf Professionals Network and those involved in compiling a useful what do to if you are unhappy with ATWs decision that makes the accountability and decision making within Access to Work more transparent. As I long thought but was not aware until now, that there is an independent body that can consider your dispute with ATW if you are unhappy with their decision. Heres the summary of what you can do:- 1) If you are unhappy with ATWs decision write to the Reconsideration Team (they usually state within one month of their letter). Keep using this option until ATW advise you that there is nothing more they can do. ATW should also inform you of your right to complain. Consider contacting your local MP (you will need to have done this before you reach the final stage of the complaints process - point 3 below). What to know how to find your MP findyourmp.parliament.uk. 2) Complain to the Independent Case Examinder (ICE). ICE is not part of ATW or the Government and will look at your case impartially. You must write to them within 6 months from the decision letter from Access to Work. 3) If you are still unhappy with the decision of ICE, you can then write to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. You need to contact them to obtain a complaints form (or you can download and print from their website ombudsman.org.uk). If you have reached this stage, please note that you need to have already involved your MP prior to reaching this stage. Remember, the Disabilty Rights Uk Chief Executive, Liz Sayce states Disabled people have campaigned vigorously for improvements to Access to Work and at last we are seeking some progress: the latest figures show more disabled people used Access to Work in the year ending March 2013 than the year before. Government has finally agreed to a lot of our demands: making Access to Work available for disabled people doing work experience, or traineeships, getting rid of the standard list of things that it wont fund, stopping any requirement on small businesses to share the cost and actually marketing the programme - so more disabled people and employers know about it. We must keep up the pressure so more and more disabled people know about and use Access to Work. Campaigning together we can get change…
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 13:19:00 +0000
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