I’m swapping iced coffees for course notes as I start my ILM5 in Coaching and Mentoring, and I’m excited to bring those skills into my work.
In this edition, you’ll find a quick tip on requesting an escalation when timescales put your job at risk, clear steps for taking a complaint further, and fresh FOI insight on Reconsiderations. There are free talks to book, an invite to a Bristol professionals meet-up, and a chance to apply for free coaching.
I’m also spotlighting a handy Assistive Technology resource, plus how my Workplace Needs Assessments can help. Read on.
Quick tips
- If you can’t wait for the normal Access to Work timescales (for example, because your job is at risk or you have a temporary need), you can request an escalation of your application or a change of circumstances. You will need to phone the helpline and explain your circumstances – escalations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If the person you speak to hasn’t heard about this, ask to speak to a manager. This recent FOI confirms the right to request an escalation.
- If you’ve made a complaint and are not happy with the response, you can escalate it by:
1. Asking for your complaint to go to a senior manager, then
2. Contacting the Independent Case Examiner, then
3. Requesting your MP refer your complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
Access to Work in more detail
Some clients have been experiencing issues with Reconsiderations, specifically being told that:
- The Reconsideration Team can’t consider any additional information – they will only look at information available to the Case Manager at the time they made their decision, and
- The Reconsideration Team can’t consider any support not explicitly rejected by the Case Manager. So if recommendations are missed off the Workplace Needs Assessment report or the Case Manager hasn’t explicitly rejected a support element in writing, then the Reconsideration Team can’t review it.
A recent FOI has confirmed that these are not policies detailed in either internal or published guidance. However, it is alarming to find out that there are, in fact, no written policies, processes, or training materials on the only appeals process to Access to Work users!
Here is the FOI response:
“Access to Work (AtW) does not have specific guidance, internal communications, or training materials that instruct Case Managers on what information to consider when carrying out a reconsideration of a decision. There is no guidance advising them to exclude additional information or explaining how to determine what qualifies as ‘additional’ and should therefore be excluded.
If a customer disagrees with an Access to Work decision, they can request a reconsideration. The AtW Reconsideration Team will review the original decision and supporting evidence, consider any new information and/or evidence, and decide whether the decision should be changed.
The Reconsideration Team refers to the official AtW staff guidance when reviewing decisions.
We do not hold any learning products to support Case Managers with the Access to Work Reconsideration Decision process or considerations.“
What I’m up to in September, October and November
1. Regular Free Talks from NeuroRocket
Access to Work talks aimed at neurodivergent workers, run by NeuroRocket and delivered by me. There is always plenty of time to ask questions.
Timetable
September 12th – Part 1: Before you apply
September 26th – Part 2: Preparing to meet your caseworker
October 10th – Part 1: Before you apply
7th November- Part 1: Before you apply
28th November- Part 3: Using and managing your grant
Don’t worry if you can’t make it on the day – you will be sent a link to the recording to view later.
COMING SOON – regular FREE talk series aimed at HR professionals, line managers and employers. Look out for more information in future newsletters.
2. Insight speaker at AT Workwise from TechEdology, 18th September
AT Workwise is a free online conference dedicated to discovering how Assistive Technology can be used to better the workplace for everyone. I’ll be delivering one of the Insight talks focusing on the ‘unwritten policies of Access to Work’ alongside Keynote speakers and demos from Assistive Technology suppliers.
2. Attending innovATe 2025 Manchester, 23rd October
Catch me hanging out at innovATe 2025 Manchester. This one-day in-person event showcases Assistive Technology from a range of suppliers, including Habitat Learn, Dolphin Computer Access, Glean, Everyway, Brain in Hand, Ayoa and Spellex. Grab me for a chat if you’re coming.
4. Bristol Professionals Meetup, date tbc (November)
I’m organising a free, informal networking/coffee social event for professionals in Bristol who work in the disability and work space. If you’re in the area and interested in coming, please let me know. Attendees are likely to include a mix of assistive tech professionals or suppliers, workplace needs assessors, disability consultants, coaches, DEI professionals, support workers, researchers, and supported employment providers.
An opportunity for FREE coaching
I’m excited to say I’m going to be starting the ILM5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring at UWE on 29th September. I’m really looking forward to better understanding the coaching that I’m recommending to my clients or supporting them to get funding for, being able to deliver coaching myself, and also bringing coaching skills into my existing advice and advocacy work with Access to Work claimants.
As part of the course, I need to deliver 18 hours of coaching with at least 3 clients. So…I’m looking for some coachees”
Please contact me if you’d be interested in some FREE work-based coaching and:
- Are employed within an organisation
- Are disabled and/or neurodivergent
- Are able to commit to 6 coaching sessions across roughly 6 months, starting sometime between October and February
Although the coaching is free, it is important that you are able to make the time to attend sessions and carry out some work in between (for example, filling in feedback forms or pre-session questionnaires).
Campaign updates
The Access to Work Collective has been doing a marvellous job of keeping Access to Work cuts and problems in the news.
- Women’s Hour, BBC Radio 4
- The Canary
- Disability News Service
- HR magazine
- Good Morning Britain
They’ve also partnered with Birkbeck, University of London, to conduct a study exploring the socio-economic impact of Access to Work, its value to the economy, workplace inclusion and individual wellbeing to produce evidence-based recommendations to improve the scheme.
The Collective ran an extremely popular AtW information session on 22nd August. There don’t appear to be any plans to run another, but join the group to keep up to date.
You can find out more about the Access to Work Collective on LinkedIn.
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Spotlight on…
‘Assistive Technology Catalogues’ by the Business Disability Forum
My regular monthly slot to showcase products, services, organisations, tools and strategies that you might find useful.
This month, it’s the Business Disability Forum’s guidance on Assistive Technology Catalogues.
This free resource is helpful to employers who want to put together a catalogue and promote inclusion, but it’s also extremely valuable to anyone applying to Access to Work for the first time who wants to understand the range of software and equipment that could be funded.
Get help from me
Did you know that I carry out Workplace Needs Assessments as well as provide support with Access to Work?
A private Workplace Needs Assessment is similar to an Access to Work one, but will typically take longer, go more in depth and make recommendations for adjustments to the way you work, as well as suggesting paid-for support such as software, equipment, coaching and support workers. You can use the report you get as supporting evidence when making your Access to Work application or talking to your employer about Reasonable Adjustments.
I offer Workplace Needs Assessments to:
- Employees (needs to be arranged for by the employer), from £500
- Self-employed workers (or business owners), £350
You can read more about my Workplace Needs Assessments and all my other services on my website.
Simply click the underlined text above to visit each session and my website.
That’s all for now
See you next month,
Alice 😊