What will Jobcentre Plus services look like in the future? Work, Benefits and Skills: the role of local government – Breakout session 19 January 2011

The policy intent Ministers have said they want: More flexibility for Jobcentre Plus and local decision making More local engagement …especially through measures like Work Clubs, Work Together, Work Experience and New Enterprise Allowance Receipt of benefits for those able to work is conditional on their willingness to work ……with focus on jobsearch for those who can …..supported by a new sanctions regime Work Programme - an integrated package of support providing personalised help supporting a wide range of customers – from Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients who have been out of work for some time, to customers who may previously have been receiving incapacity benefits for many years. It’s all about getting Britain working……….

What has happened so far? We have launched Work Clubs Work Together And have announced Work Experience New Enterprise Allowance Service Academies

How will the service that Jobcentre Plus delivers change? Still some detailed design decisions to be made but we will see… More flexibility for Jobcentre Plus in how things are delivered with less prescription from the centre Opportunities for District Managers to shape the nature and level of support that is available in their patch A focus on delivering outcomes not processes But in a financially constrained world…. There will be less provision so hard choices are going to have to be made Accountability will sit locally

And will the ‘ask’ of customers change? A stronger commitment up-front as to what activities customers will engage in – across all benefits Expecting customers to meet those commitments Changing the sanctions regime to push for engagement with the support on offer

More Flexible Jobcentre Plus Support – Key Features Delivery Environment Performance Framework changed Focus on outputs rather than inputs and process More flexibility in use of funding Drawing on lessons from Flexibility Pilots

More Flexible Jobcentre Plus Support – Key Features District Level Opportunities for closer working with partners on mix and shape of back to work support Opportunities for joint working Greater use of non contracted provision

More Flexible Jobcentre Plus Support – Key Features Individual level support Increased focus on diagnosis at the New Claim PA discretion to tailor support to match the customer Method content and frequency of customer contact at PA discretion