A flexible gateway to employment? Disabled people and the Employment Service’s Work Preparation Programme in Scotland

English Over the last two decades, employment policy for disabled people has been dominated by supply-side measures. This article begins with a brief discussion of the historical background to employment policy for disabled people, focusing in particular on job rehabilitation/Work Preparation policies and programmes. The nature and outcomes of the Employment Service’s Work Preparation Programme in Scotland are discussed, drawing on DfEE-funded research. The article concludes that, as a predominantly supply-side measure geared to fitting disabled people into the labour market with relatively little support, the Work Preparation Programme is achieving only modest gains. Particular groups of disabled people, for instance those with mental health problems, have fewer opportunities to participate and poorer outcomes. Better outcomes might be achieved if additional and ongoing support for disabled people with higher support needs were available.