FUNCTIONAL
SKILLS ENGLISH
REPORT WRITING TASKS
WRITING TASK 1
You work for the Department of Work and Pensions and have been asked to write a
report on the government's new benefit overhaul. Your report will determine whether
or not the new system is functioning correctly.
You should include:
What universal credit is
Whether or not the new system is working
The effect that universal credit has had on benefit claimants
Your recommendations on how the government should respond to your findings
You can use the source documents below to help you in planning what to include in your report.
DOCUMENT 1
UNIVERSAL CREDIT
Universal Credit was legislated for in the Welfare Reform Act 2012. It is a benefit for working-age
people, replacing six benefits and merging them into one payment. This new system is designed to
make claiming benefits simpler.
This new benefit began to be rolled out gradually to Jobcentres in 2013, with a single universal
credit payment being paid into claimants' banks accounts to cover the benefits of which they were
eligible.
DOCUMENT 2
CRITISM OF UNIVERSAL CREDIT
Universal Credit, is now available in every Jobcentre across the UK, with the Government saying that
it simplifies the benefits system. However, it has been the subject of criticism from the outset, with
reports of IT issues, massive overspends and administrative problems, as well as claimants struggling
to get by until their first payment arrives.
Residents of Hartlepool, one of the first areas in the country where this new benefit was first rolled
out, believe that the universal credit system is not working as it should. It's been reported that the
number of people requiring help at a Hartlepool foodbank, has surged upwards by nearly a fifth.
Hartlepool Foodbank, provided 4,913 clients with food parcels during 2018. This is a rise of almost
18.5% compared to the 4,148 people helped during 2017. This has doubled since the first roll out of
universal credit, with the charity's co-ordinator Abi Knowles saying: "What we do has probably
doubled since the start of Universal Credit. Whereas we used to be dealing with 20 vouchers a day,
now it can be as many as 55 over a two-hour period."
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WRITING TASK 2
You work for your local NHS and have been asked to write a report on the increase in
allergy rates in the UK.
Your report will be presented to the board member's panel who, based on your
findings, will decide on the best action to take.
You should include:
What is defined as an allergy
Whether or not allergies are on the increase
How many people in the UK are suffering from allergy related symptoms
The common symptoms of allergies and ways in which people can ease symptoms
Your recommendations on how the panel should respond to your findings
You can use the source document below to help you in planning what to include in your report.
FACTS ABOUT ALLERGIES
There is a 5% year rise in the number of people living with allergies in the UK
1 in 40 children in the UK are suffering from at least one serious allergy
Allergies affect about 1 in 3 of the UK population (around 20 million people).
1 in 1,333 of the population in England has experienced anaphylaxis ( a potentially life-
threatening reaction to an allergy) at some point in their lives
Seven times as many people were admitted to hospital with a severe allergic reaction in
2000 than in 1990
One in four people in the UK has hay fever (equating to about 16 million people)
Treatments for allergy related symptoms can include: maintaining a healthy lifestyle,
prescription medication and herbal medication
Common triggers for allergies include: medication, food, pollen, latex and insect stings
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WRITING TASK 3
You have recently witnessed an accident in your place of work. You have been asked to
write an report based on this incident and this will be handed to your employer upon
completion.
You should include:
Why you are writing the report
The details of the incident including any injuries that the person obtained
The location, date and time of the incident
The causes of the incident
Any recommendations that you can suggest to stop this from happening again
You can use the source document below to help you in planning what to include in your report.
HEALTH & SAFTEY AT WORK ACT
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the main piece of legislation covering
health and safety in the workplace. It outlines the responsibilities of both the
employer and employee in ensuring there is a safe working environment.
Responsibilities of an Employer
• Responsible for health and safety of employees
• Provide adequate working space
• Provide safe areas of work
• Provide supervision, instruction and training of staff
• Safety and maintenance of machinery and tools
• Good ventilation, lighting and temperature control
• Easy evacuation and good exit routes
• Safety policy document
• Risk assessment
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Sources Used:
https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/politics/universal-credit-blamed-rise-people-needing-help-hartlepool-foodbank
https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/politics/almost-9000-people-hartlepool-are-claiming-universal-credit-594541
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41487126
www.cnbc.com//2016/09/09/allergies-are-on-the-rise-and-here-are-three-reasons-why.html
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zcs4ng8/revision/4
