The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed details of four schemes to offer help to people with mental health and neurodiversity in Wales. The update came after Chris Evans, Labour MP for Caerphilly, asked the department what steps it is taking to support workers' mental health in Wales.
DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms explained four ways the government was offering help: the Disability Confident scheme, the Access to Work grant, the Keep Britain Working programme and the Support with Employee Health and Disability service.
Disability Confident and Access to Work
Sir Stephen said employers play an important role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their workforce, and that the government provides a range of initiatives to support employers and employees, including those who experience mental health conditions in the workplace.
He said the Disability Confident scheme operates across the UK, including in Wales, and supports employers to recruit, retain and develop disabled people and people with long-term health conditions. The scheme aims to increase employer confidence, awareness and understanding of disability in the workplace and to encourage more inclusive employment practices.
The minister noted that well over 1,000 employers registered with Disability Confident are based in Wales, and a list of employers participating in the scheme, including their membership level, is published monthly on GOV.UK.
Grants and tailored guidance
On grants, Sir Stephen said the Access to Work grant provides personalised support and workplace assessments, travel to work assistance, support workers, and specialist aids and equipment. He added that Access to Work also includes the Mental Health Support Service, which can provide up to nine months of non-clinical support for people who need additional help with their wellbeing whilst in employment.
The government also offers tailored guidance to employers on supporting disabled people and people with health conditions in the workplace through its Support with Employee Health and Disability service. This includes guidance on disclosure and having conversations about health and disability, plus guidance on legal obligations and making reasonable adjustments.
Neurodiversity and Keep Britain Working
The minister went on to discuss support for neurodivergent people in the workplace, following a new report published last month that aims to get more people with neurodiversity into the workplace, keep them there and help them rise through the ranks.
Sir Stephen said that while neurodivergence is not in itself a mental health condition, it often overlaps with other conditions, including mental health challenges, and understanding these overlaps is important for providing effective support. In 2025, DWP established an independent advisory panel of academics with expertise and lived experience of neurodiversity to consider these issues. The panel's findings, alongside the department's response, were published on 2 October 2026, and the department continues to work with employers and stakeholders to translate the report's recommendations into practical action.
He finished by discussing Keep Britain Working, which is working with employers across the UK, including the devolved nations, to improve support for workers with mental health conditions. The programme meets regularly with Welsh Government officials to explore how its agenda can join up with Welsh programmes and services. Through its Vanguard Phase, it is testing and refining approaches that help people with long-term mental health conditions stay in and thrive in work. Keep Britain Working is also developing an employer-facing standard with the British Standards Institution and exploring Workplace Health Provision to provide practical work and health support and advice for employers.
