Lorna Reith Chief Executive of the Disability Alliance, Which

Speakers STAFFORDSHIRE Lorna Reith Chief Executive of the Disability Alliance, which campaigns to break the link between poverty and disability UNIVERSITY Martin Barnes Director of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Law School one of the country's leading charities promoting welfare rights

Catherine Casserley Barrister, Legal Officer, Royal National Institute for the Blind; co-author of Law, Rights, & Disability, and other texts

Keith Puttick Solicitor, Principal Lecturer, Staffordshire University; co-author of Employment Rights; author Welfare Benefits (7th Edn)

Workshop Leaders/Speakers Jane Ballantyne Solicitor, Maclaren Warner, CPAG Lecturer

Merry Cocks Solicitor, Northwich CAB

Francis Morrall Employment Director, British Ceramic Confederation Disability, Welfare and Work Joan Smith & Tina Davies Institute of Social Work & Social Studies, Centre for Social Justice Research Staffordshire University Law School From Rhetoric to Rights?

Susan Smith, Adviser, Heptonstalls, Solicitors; Advisory Editor of Welfare Benefits Ashley Centre, Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent Ayesha Vernon, Senior Lecturer/Fellow in Disability Studies, University of Northumbria Thursday 17th January 2002 Mike Wolfe Manager, Stoke-on-Trent CAB, co-author of the Debt 9.15 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Advice Handbook (CPAG)

Mike Wood Planning & Partnerships Officer, Staffordshire CC

NB Participants will be provided with pre-workshop ‘briefings’, notes on the law, and suggested ‘problem areas’ Conference Programme Welcome: Prof. Christine King, Vice-Chancellor, Staffordshire incapacity, and the rights and responsibilities of workers, employers, University (after Registration: 9.15 am - 9.30 am) and claimants. At a time when ‘welfare’ and employment law has been undergoing radical reform - and the government’s promise is still 'work Lorna Reith, Chief Executive, Disability Alliance for those who can, and security for those who cannot' - the conference * Disabled People, Welfare, and Poverty: An Overview speakers and workshops will consider the key issues. * Government Policies & Financial Support from the State * 'Work for those who Can, Security for those who Can't'? It will be an opportunity for advisers, lawyers, personnel/HRM Questions/Discussion specialists, trades unionists, and others with interests in the subject, to come together to discuss the subject, and new legislation due in 2002. Martin Barnes, Director Child Poverty Action Group * Disability and Benefits: Work as "Welfare" It will also enable participants to consider the operation of the * State Support for Employment Disability Discrimination Act 1995 ('the DDA'), the Human Rights Act * Proposed Changes Affecting Welfare & Employment 1998, and other employment and 'welfare-at-work' legislation - Questions/Discussion particularly in 'problem areas' like incapacity, absence from work, long- term sickness; and 'disability' under the Act's requirements. Coffee/Refreshments Workshops Keith Puttick, Staffordshire University Law School Participants can attend one of the two workshops in the morning, and * Recruitment, Terms & Conditions, & the DDA one of the two in the afternoon: there will be approximately 10 people * Employers' Contractual Duties; SSP; In-Work Benefits per workshop. Please indicate your preferences on the Booking Form. * Stress, Illness/Incapacity as 'Disability'; Long-Term Absence Questions/Discussion Morning 1. Government Policies & Legislation: 'Incapacity' and Work Workshop 1 (with Notes and 'Common Problems'): Lunch (disability & incapacity benefits eligibility; and 'incapacity' tests) 2. Disability & Incapacity at Work: Employers' Duties Catherine Casserley, Legal Officer, RNIB (employers' duties in relation to workers with disabilities, and * DDA, “Discrimination”; & Employers' Duties sickness and incapacity problems at work) * Less Favourable Treatment & 'Justification' * Constructive/Unfair dismissal Afternoon Questions/Discussion 1. Disabled/Incapacitated Workers: Welfare-to-Work & Benefits (welfare benefits while working; Tax Credits; and in-work welfare Workshop 2 (with Notes and 'Common Problems’): Tea benefits problems, eg during incapacity from work and absences) Reports from Workshops & Discussion: Close (4.30) 2. The DDA, “Discrimination”, and Unfair Dismissal Staffordshire University is hosting a conference on disability and (employers' duties: sickness/injuries, 'disability', & dismissal) Disability Welfare, and Work Disability Welfare, and Work From Rhetoric to Rights? From Rhetoric to Rights? Thursday 17th January 2002 Thursday 17th January 2002 9.30 am - 4.30 pm 9.30 am - 4.30 pm Booking Form Booking Form

I/we would like to attend. Please reserve ( ) place(s) I/we would like to attend. Please reserve ( ) place(s)

Name(s)…………………………………………………………… Name(s)…………………………………………………………… Organisation (if applicable) …………………………………… Organisation (if applicable) …………………………………… CPD Certificate Required? (5 Hours CPD) Yes/No CPD Certificate Required? (5 Hours CPD) Yes/No

Address: …………………………………………………………. Address: …………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………. ………………….………………………………………………… ………………….………………………………………………… Telephone/E-Mail ….…………………………………… Telephone/E-Mail ….……………………………………

Workshop Preferences? Please Circle AM 1 2 PM 1 2 Workshop Preferences? Please Circle AM 1 2 PM 1 2

Special Needs/Disability? ………………………………………... Special Needs/Disability? ………………………………………... Please provide details here of any disabilities or special needs you may Please provide details here of any disabilities or special needs you may have. We will do our best to cater for these. If we cannot, we will have. We will do our best to cater for these. If we cannot, we will advise you before your application is processed. advise you before your application is processed.

I enclose a cheque for £40 (incl. VAT) per place payable to I enclose a cheque for £40 (incl. VAT) per place payable to “Staffordshire University” (£20 CABx, CPAG, Charities) “Staffordshire University” (£20 CABx, CPAG, Charities)

Please return form to: Pat Holdcroft, Law School, Please return form to: Pat Holdcroft, Law School, Staffordshire University Staffordshire University Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF (Tel. 01782-294569/294550) (Tel. 01782-294569/294550) E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected]