1. Housing and Worklessness Seminar
CESI
Housing and Worklessness Seminar
21 January 2012
Victoria Whittle Head of Ready2Work

2. Affinity Sutton 57,000 homes 120 LA’s 100 year heritage single group
big developer
social purpose
A key point is that we are very spread out so we have to think of national scalable approaches
Many DI projects are traditionally very local (eg. wi-fi’ing up a block) but in common with the rest of our CI programmes we want our DI programme to be available to all as far as possible, this has influenced our approach

3. Ready2Work – what do we do?
“Help residents to access training and employment opportunities that will help to enhance their lives”
2013/14 – 446 into work, 1650 into training, 41 apprenticeships, 30 business start-ups
GuideLine
Pre-employment
Employment Engagement
In-work Support
Externally-funded programmes
Resident Grants programme
Key role in welfare reform
In-Work Support
Guideline: Our telephone-based Information advice and guidance service and main entry point into Ready 2 Work and Financial Inclusion
Pre-employment – National team of 15 Team Leader and Manager Employment Support Officers, who provide 1:1 IAG, wrap around service, placements. Resident engagement, Basic Skills and employability support, Workshops and Work Clubs, Confidence building, Training courses, Online e-learning courses, Vocational training for work and referral to specialist agencies
Employment Engagement – Manager, Team leader and 4 Employer Engagement Officers, work with over 25 companies to source employment opportunities including British Gas, My Time, ISS, Meridian Hotels, Royal Household
Commission work out to agency where we haven’t got a physical presence ie Bradford, K&C
Retrain - £250 to £1000
Re-Work – up to £150
Business Start up – up to £1000
Key interventions for residents affected by Welfare reform – rapid response, fast track. Current cases supported xxxxxxxx
Work programme – in Bromley, A4E subcontract, 42 % AS residents
In-work support – 6 months, monthly & bi-monthly contact with resident and employer, on-line toolkit

4. Ready 2 Work – What do we offer?
Pre-employment services:
Direct and telephone based 1:1 Information, Advice and Guidance
Basic Skills and employability support workshops
On-line training
Direct vocational training for work
CV building
Interview workshops

5. Ready 2 Work – What do we offer?
Employer Services
Fast Track employment – Guaranteed Interview Scheme via Local/National employers Agreements
Apprenticeships – Internal & External opportunities
Employer led pre-employment Training – supporting employers skills gap – guaranteed interview scheme
Work placement opportunities
Interview MOT
In work support for up to 26 weeks

6. Ready 2 Work– Resident Grants
Support Grants – 3 types:
Business start-up support - Opportunity to apply for up to £1000 for a new business idea - To help turn an idea into a reality! – AS residents
Re-Train - Grants of up to £250 (special consideration for level 3 or above) - Aims to help residents access training that will enhance their career or help move them closer to employment – AS residents
Re-Work - Grants of up to £150 - Aims to help remove barriers and support residents to access opportunities that have been secured for either work placements or paid employment. Costs covered: work wear, travel or specialist equipment required for the role – Open to all residents

7. Ready 2 Work – How we do it? The National Offer
Mixture of direct and remotely delivered support
Regional R2W Officers:
Salford Plymouth
Birmingham South Shields
Haywards Heath Borehamwood
Bromley
Develop more localised and responsive partnerships and programmes
Deliver face to face support to residents in high priority areas
Develop direct opportunities for residents to access training and employment opportunities

8. Ready 2 Work – Guideline Guideline – National Offer
Telephone based Information Advice and Guidance service
(i) Employment support:
Accessing training
Job Search Skills
Volunteering Opportunities
Employment Opportunities
Retention
(ii) Money Matters:
Budgeting
Bank accounts
Maximising income
Reducing debt