Employment Injury Assistance Steering Group: principles

These draft guiding principles build on the agreed upon terms of reference. The group has considered the relevance of the Social Security (Scotland) Act principles and Social Security Charter that are enshrined in law and have agreed that they should guide both the work of the group and the way the group operates. The group has determined further detailed principles which also have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty and the Christie Principles of public sector reform.

The steering group will:

Commit to exploring ways of addressing inequalities that have been identified in the current Scheme, including but not limited to gender, race and age disparities. 

The group keenly understands the inequalities embedded in the current Scheme and is committed to understanding how these can be addressed through reform.

Endeavour to ensure that no-one currently in receipt of IIDB is made worse off as a result of the introduction of Employment Injury Assistance.

The group acknowledges that reforming industrial injuries benefits may be a source of anxiety for those currently in receipt of them. This may be a result of both changes to eligibility and of any process of case transfer of current awards from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) required to support the delivery of EIA. The group will therefore explore different ways of ensuring current awards are protected. 

Involve people with lived experience of applying for and receiving IIDB, and of occupational disease and/or injury in developing recommendations on Employment Injury Assistance.

The group recognises the importance of seeking the views of people with experience of the current Scheme but also the importance of seeking the views of people currently unable to access the Scheme in identifying and addressing barriers.

Ensuring that recommendations are based on available scientific, epidemiological and medical evidence and research, maximising the networks, expertise and experience of members.

The group acknowledges the vital importance of research and evidence as well as the scale of challenges around existing gaps in data. Members are committed to working together to identify and share the most relevant research, supported by Scottish Government officials.

Explore how a reformed Employment Injury Assistance can both be better promoted in Scotland than the current Scheme and can contribute to greater awareness of and education around occupational health risks.

The group recognises that there are a number of factors for why the number of industrial injuries benefits awards is decreasing year on year but that low awareness and take-up of these benefits could be part of the overall picture. The group will explore ways that its work and recommendations could contribute to improving education around rights and support. 

Ensure recommendations are aligned with the intended aims and outcomes of the Women’s Health Plan and ongoing workstreams on work and health in Scotland; explore how work of the steering group can impact on and add value to these related workstreams. 

The group will explore ways its work and recommendations could contribute to wider work on ensuring workplaces are safer, reducing inequalities and improving rehabilitation.