Coming into work? Engaging vulnerable people with employability policy frameworks, local practices SHEN/Dundee Cyrenians March 2008
Current policy context Homelessness legislation/ HTF recommendations Workforce Plus/ MCMC Welfare Reform leading to flexible New Deal Skills for Scotland Joined up thinking!
A chance to work for all? Amongst other things, welfare reform offers: 80% employment rate Equip individuals with skills Jobs pledge – 250,000 job opportunities New services through flexible New Deal
Who are the 20%?
How will this be delivered? Changes to benefits system DWP Commissioning Strategy Workforce Plus – more provision for early stages and in-work support Skills policies (for low skilled?)
New job seekers 3 months on JSA Job search requirements widened 6 months – Gateway to include skills check and training 12 months – specialist service Full time work experience
Worklessness and the pipeline Who are the “workless” Changing the pattern Fast tracking and the “pipeline” Pathways to Work etc.
Low – skilled in Scotland Skills for Scotland More choices more chances New projects – eg “Youthbuild” Whatever happened to NFFI?
Flexible New Deal – what is it? Based on the Freud Report First tier providers with supply chain 2 phases to be rolled out by 2010 Competition, market-led, paid by results Sustainable job outcomes (rising to 18 months)
Strengths of SHEN member providers Scottish context – WF+, MCMC and HTF recommendations Focus on individual Local identity and service provision Existing experience
Weaknesses Small providers, partnerships weak Funding “patchy” – lack of investment Homelessness is not a DWP priority Evidence not systematically collected
Opportunities DWP Chaotic lifestyles Not “parking” the hardest to help Flexible New Deal activity looks for: –Links to specialist providers –Focus on individuals –Partnerships –Local credibility
Threats Competition in supply chain Up-front funding Homelessness not a priority Timescales for in-work outcomes Sustainabilty Difficulty of demonstrating outcomes How local is “local”
SHEN response Collecting evidence as programme rolls out Supporting partnership development Highlighting the importance of measurement systems which recognise soft outcomes Representation of service providers and service users at Scottish and UK levels
Contact