Access to Work support worker record of tasks SWROT.jpg

  • The form that decides everything.

    You should not do this alone.

When a support worker request goes wrong, the consequences are severe

20%

The proportion of their original hours some clients are left with after a poorly worded renewal.

1/3

The hourly rate some clients end up with when they can't justify a higher specialist rate.

While you will always need the support worker record of tasks form when you ask for a support worker from Access to Work, they no longer always ask for the form in writing.

They may call you out of the blue and go through the questions over the phone, while you answer on the spot with no preparation and no strategy. Having your SWROT prepared in advance means you are ready for that call, with the right wording already worked out.

One client told me: "I couldn't have done that phone call without what you prepared for me."

Does this sound like you?

  • "I didn’t even know the form existed until my case manager asked for it. Then I had 2 days to cobble it together before the deadline."

  • “I know what my support worker does, but I don't know how to describe it in a way that ATW will accept."

  • "Last time my hours were cut massively and I still don't know why."

  • “I know I need help from a support worker, but I don’t know what to say so Acces to Work approves it.”

  • "My support worker helped me fill it in last time and I knew it was all wrong and just not good enough. I need to be ready this time."

  • "Every renewal feels like starting from scratch and fighting all over again."

Access to Work support worker rules: what you need to know

Access to Work makes a critical distinction between two types of support. If your SWROT describes the wrong type, your hours will be cut regardless of how much you genuinely need them.

Enabling support

Your support worker assists you while you carry out a task together. ATW can fund up to 100% of your working hours for this type. If you want more than 8 hours/week of support, this is what your SWROT should describe.

Replacing support

Your support worker does the task for you while you do something else. ATW funds far fewer hours for this, and will use it to cut your award significantly (down to 20% of your own working hours).

The difference between these two categories is often a matter of a single word. I know what Access to Work is looking for, what they categorically will not approve, and how to frame real, genuine needs in the language that gives them the strongest possible case. This is not something most people know, and it is not something your support worker is trained to help with.

What happens when you book

  • We meet for a 60-minute information-gathering session

    I ask you about what you do for work, how your conditions affect you day-to-day, and what tasks you need help with from a support worker. You don't need to know the right words yet. That's my job.

  • We go through what ATW will and won't support

    During the session, I'll walk you through the current Access to Work support worker guidance on what's fundable, how to frame your tasks correctly, and what to steer away from so nothing on the form can be used against you.

  • I prepare your complete SWROT document

    Within 7 days after our meeting, I send you the finished form, written with the specific wording and framing that maximises your chances.

  • I send a cover letter to support your case

    To justify your hourly rate, I provide a cover letter template and guidance on how to obtain three specialist provider quotes to strengthen your case even further.

    This gives proactive evidence that puts you on solid ground for a reconsideration or complaint, should ATW push back on your original request for a support worker or cut your hours or hourly rate.

  • One round of revisions included

    If anything doesn't reflect your reality or you want to query something in the form or cover letter, I'll revise it. The document should be accurate as well as strategic.

What’s included

  • Two people talking

    60-minute information-gathering session

    Video call to collect everything I need to prepare your support worker form for Access to Work

  • A document icon

    Complete SWROT document

    All tables completed with wording that maximises your chances of getting a high number of hours and hourly rate, ready to submit or use on the phone

  • Email icon

    Cover letter template

    Justifying your specialist hourly rate with the right framing for ATW

  • A speech bubble

    Advice and guidance

    Advice on how to approach the conversation with Access to Work about getting a support worker, following best practices that maximise your chances

  • A lightbulb

    Previous renewal review

    I check your previous year's renewal info and form to make sure nothing in it can be used against your renewal - or just explain what went wrong so you can get closure

  • A clock

    7-day turnaround

    You will receive everything within a maximum of 7 days from our session. One round of revisions is included

What clients say

  • "We're a forward-thinking team, so it's difficult to think the way Access to Work does. This is difficult work, so thank you very much for your help."

  • "My last case manager really did just try and trip me up in that initial call… I don't want to assume it will be the same again, but I don't want to chance it."

  • "You clearly listened. The document is beautiful. I don't know how you made sense of what I said, I thought I was just rambling."

  • "I know that without this support, I would really struggle. So that's why I'm more than happy to pay an expert to help me with it."

  • “What you do is incredible because this is designed to trip people like me up.”

  • "Navigating that paperwork and the intimidation of that paperwork, just to get the support I need was so much. Thank you for your help."

Max, smiling brightly at the camera.

Why Max?

Max Wayne, ATW Consultant

The SWROT is the document I see go wrong more than anything else in the ATW process. People fill it in honestly, describing what their support worker does/would do, and it still gets used against them, because the wording described replacing support instead of enabling support, or because it included tasks ATW no longer funds without the applicant knowing that had changed.

I have prepared SWROTs for clients across a wide range of conditions, roles, and situations, including renewals where previous awards had been cut significantly and needed to be rebuilt from scratch. I know the language, I know the current rules, and I know what case managers are looking for, including the things they are actively looking for reasons to deny.

Even when the outcome isn't what a client hoped for, the documents I prepare mean they have solid, correctly worded evidence on record. That is what makes a successful reconsideration or complaint possible from day 1.

Because support workers are getting increasingly difficult to get, a key part of my strategy is to set my clients up for long-term success that carries into the realms of reconsiderations and complaints. Bleak, but this is what sets you up for the strongest possible case!

“I know what you don’t know. And I know how to say it in a way that gives you the best possible chance.”
— Max Wayne

This service is not the right fit if:

  • Rejection icon with an X

    Your case manager is calling in the next 72 hours

    There is not enough time to have the session and prepare your document before the call. Contact your case manager to ask for more time.

  • Rejection icon with an X

    You don't have, or aren't applying for, a support worker

    This service is specifically for people who have or are requesting a support worker as part of their ATW award. If you're at an earlier stage and not sure what support to ask for, a consultation is a better starting point.

  • For general boundaries that apply to all my services, see Before you book.

Common questions

  • How do I apply for a support worker through Access to Work?

    You apply for a support worker as part of your Access to Work application or renewal. During the process, your case manager will ask about your support needs, and the Support Worker Record of Tasks is the document that justifies what hours and rate you're requesting. If you haven't applied yet and aren't sure where to start, a comprehensive pre-application consultation is the right first step. If you've already applied and have your assessment or renewal coming up, I can help you prepare for requesting a support worker.

  • What types of support are available through Access to Work?

    Access to Work can fund types of support: a support worker (a person who assists you with work tasks), specialist coaching (such as ADHD or executive function coaching), workplace equipment or software, and help with travel for work. These are not mutually exclusive, and many people receive a combination.

    The support worker record of tasks (SWROT) specifically covers the support worker element of your award. If you're not sure what combination of support is right for you, you’re welcome to book a consultation for guidance on what to ask for.

  • What are the eligibility criteria for Access to Work support workers?

    To be eligible for a support worker through Access to Work, you need to be in paid employment or self-employment in England, and have a disability or health condition that affects your ability to do your job. You do not need a formal diagnosis.

    If you hope to secure more than 8 hours of support per week, you need to be able to show that the support is enabling rather than replacing your work.

    Access to Work is a discretionary grant, which means eligibility decisions are made by a case manager and can vary. My What is Access to Work? page has a full overview of eligibility.