Overview

• The £167.2m top‑up will embed specialist employment advisers in GP surgeries, mental health services and community partners, offering support to about 40,000 additional people.
• Nine English areas are included in this round—such as the North East, South Midlands, Devon Plymouth and Torbay, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, West Sussex and Brighton, Berkshire, Cumbria, and York and North Yorkshire.
• The initiative is part of more than £1bn in funding aiming to support up to 300,000 people into work by 2030, with participation voluntary and referrals available via GPs, councils, community groups or self‑referral.
• Support on offer includes personalised coaching, virtual‑reality interview practice, confidence and communication workshops, links to employers and help accessing affordable childcare.
• Disability charities welcome targeted support but warn that placing DWP staff in health settings could deter people from seeking care or pressure those not well enough to work, while the government cites 2.8 million people out of work due to long‑term sickness and plans broader rollout with impact data expected next year.