The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) launched its new Disability Advisory Panel on 23 January 2026 to change how disabled people in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, receive help finding and keeping jobs. The panel is made up entirely of people with lived experience of disability or health conditions and will advise the government on improving support in local communities.
The new approach is expected to change how the Swadlincote Jobcentre Plus helps residents by piloting alternatives to standard assessments such as the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). Instead, the emphasis will be on personalised plans and workplace adjustments that help people access specific equipment or job changes so they can work comfortably.
South Derbyshire District Council, which is a Disability Confident employer and guarantees interviews for disabled applicants, said it welcomed the initiative as a way to help more local talent enter the workforce. The panel plans to build on the success of local schemes like Beyond Barriers South Derbyshire, which offers one-to-one coaching for residents with health barriers.
Major employers around the Tetron Point and Hearthcote Road industrial estates are expected to be among the first involved in trials of workplace adjustment ‘passports’ designed to help staff and managers understand what support is needed. Local pilots and changes are due to begin in April 2026, with further reporting expected later in the year.
