- Adjustments Passports provide support for those left
with disabilities after serving, boosting their job prospects by
removing barriers to starting and progressing in work
- Hundreds of Armed Forces service leavers’ set to benefit,
unlocking a pool of talent for employers and businesses while
helping to grow the economy
New Adjustments Passports will support hundreds of sick and
disabled Armed Forces leavers’ to start and stay in work,
delivering on a key Government priority to remove barriers to the
labour market and grow the economy.
The scheme, announced by the Department for Work and Pensions and
the Ministry of Defence today [Tuesday 11 July], will help those
leaving service with an injury, disability or health condition
move more smoothly into employment.
The passport provides a transferable record of any workplace
adjustments the service leaver may need, such as changes to
working hours or specialist equipment, making it easier for them
to transition into work, progress and move between jobs.
Crucially, with this new document all of this can now be done
without the need for reassessment, which can often be a barrier
to disabled people and those with health conditions staying in
work.
Currently, service leavers’ can download a copy of the passport
and guidance via the Careers Transition Partnership armed
services exit process or GOV.UK with an interactive digital
version of the passport expected to be ready by the end of the
year.
Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, , said:
We know that for people who require workplace adjustments,
receiving the right support at the right time can be difficult,
especially for service leavers’ starting a civilian job for the
first time.
I am thrilled that the Adjustments Passport will address this
difficulty, giving service leavers’ the confidence that
their needs will be met, and removing the need for multiple
assessments.
Sustained, rewarding employment boosts wellbeing, and I am proud
that we will be supporting people who have served our country to
transition back to civilian life and start, stay and succeed in
work.
Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families,
MP, said:
It’s our duty to support people whilst they transition into
civilian life. The service leavers’ Adjustments Passport will
help those that need workplace adjustments by simplifying the
process and enabling potential employers to provide the right
support.
Ex-service personnel bring a wealth of skills and experience to
the workplace which is why they are in demand. This Adjustments
Passport is another step in realising their full potential at
work.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, , said:
Stable, long-term employment is key to veterans’ success after
they leave service. That is why this Government is introducing a
new Adjustments Passport, which will remove unnecessary
bureaucracy, making it easier for sick or disabled veterans to
get back into work.
It is just the latest example of how colleagues across government
are making the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran.
The Passport will benefit employers as well as service leavers’
with big employers already recognising the potential of hiring
from this group.
Tesco Group Chief Product Officer and Executive Sponsor of the
Armed Forces Network, Ashwin Prasad, said:
We’re proud of our Gold Covenant Award status, which recognises
our work to support veterans’ – thousands of whom we’re delighted
to call Tesco colleagues.
We are committed to working with DWP to build upon our
Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award and we’ll continue to support
those leaving the Armed Forces as they re-enter civilian work
life – offering them a number of adjustments to make the
transition as smooth as possible.
The Passport will provide clear, helpful advice on the various
types of funding and support which may be available to support
employers with recruitment and retention.
It has been developed learning from Health Adjustments Passport
piloted for Universities, and from closely working with Armed
Services stakeholders – testing and shaping the document to suit
their needs.
As all of the information about their workplace needs will be
recorded on the passport, it removes the need for a service
leaver to undergo an Access to Work
assessment, helping the service leaver to receive in-work support
more quickly.
The Adjustments Passport is available to all Armed Forces service
leavers’ on a voluntary basis, with service leavers choosing to
take up the offer if they feel it would benefit them. It can be
accessed via the Careers Transition Partnership or GOV.UK.
Further information
- There were 16,510 leavers’ from the UK
Regular Armed Forces between April 2022 and March 2023.
- In 2021/22, the total
number of medical discharges across the Royal Navy, Army and
RAF was 1,322.
- This is equivalent to four UK regular armed forces personnel
being medically discharged each day.
- The service leavers Adjustments Passport can be accessed via
the Careers Transition Partnership from today or downloaded from
GOV.UK from 13 July.
