Greig Robson Employability Services, Team Leader North Lanarkshire Council

Work Programme – too important to ignore?

The facts 15% of claimants on Work Programme Even though Scotland has always performed well on programmes for long- term unemployed, some signs this is slipping (CESI) Long term unemployment up more in Scotland than rest of the UK. For young people up 367% since 2008 While 18-24 youth long term unemployment high, there are twice as many 25+ long term DWP hoped for 40% performance from Work Programme ONS estimate more likely to be 25%

Work Programme is the elephant in the room in Scotland Little debate Little transparency Little integration

A flawed model Under financed Isolated Not a level playing field Likely outcomes? Providers focused on cost control, efficiency Little innovation Two tier system Poor deal for customers/residents

Why get involved in Work Programme? Opportunity to join up Best placed Track record Benchmarking Keep investment in the area

What is North Lanarkshire Council’s role? Banker Design surrounding infrastructure Deal with funding issues RTW can concentrate on delivery

Our vision? Work Programme

Our vision? To make Work Programme part of our pipeline – single service offer More efficient Frees up money to spend on customer Better outcomes for residents

What has got in the way.. Funders/Policy makers Double funding/silo funding Myths There is enough funding in the work programme to deliver a full journey The work programme is well financed and huge profits will be made Resulting in… Scotland’s local employability partnerships withdrawing, re-focusing NLC/RTW compromising on the vision

Our experience as a sub-contractor “Black box approach” has real tangible benefits Remains too much bureaucracy/paper chasing but might be fault of industry this time System hasn’t taken away incentive to park some customers (due to economic climate) Certain customer groups haven’t made it through in expected numbers Little incentive for employers to recruit WP clients (actually disincentives exist) It doesn’t feel that different from previous programmes

What do we have now? Programme finances designed three years ago with presumption of economic recovery Providers focused on efficiency, cost controls Outcome data initially looks comparable to FND Danger of lack of balance in spend in Scotland No step change in performance likely in our opinion unless we accept there are fundamental issues in Scotland and look for solutions

Solutions? Government increase funding per customer or re-model existing payment structure Locally/nationally we open up services when we can Alternative ways of integrating? How likely? It wont just happen!

What might help? Primes need to play their part and think how they can engage local partnerships – speculate to accumulate, joint commissioning Open book accounting? Policy makers/funders understand they are creating/reinforcing silo funding We need to level the playing field somehow for Work Programme customers – no disincentives for employers to recruit WP clients For discussion – The programme is flawed but we have five more years of delivery – is laissez faire acceptable?