120 likes | 226 Views
The Work Programme: meeting the performance challenge. Dave Simmonds Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion. The pattern of worklessness has changed. Work Programme: right idea, right time. More freedom – ‘black box’ making ‘joining-up’ easier More jobs – high performance expectations
E N D
The Work Programme: meeting the performance challenge Dave Simmonds Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion
Work Programme: right idea, right time • More freedom – ‘black box’ making ‘joining-up’ easier • More jobs – high performance expectations • Longer jobs – approx 60% of payment from sustained work • More people – using benefits savings • A single programme – less bureaucracy • Longer contracts – 5/7 years • Longer to work with unemployed – 2 years
Other side of coin ... • Significant financial risk .... • .... driven by high DWP expectations • Competition rather than collaboration • Impact on voluntary sector • Fears of: • ‘parking’ the most disadvantaged people • ‘parking’ deprived areas and/or high-cost areas • Background of wider welfare reform
Work Programme - 2011 DWP volumes Universal Credit
Role of local partners • Delivery: as sub-contractors; difficult for some but need to think long-term • Scrutiny: monitoring performance; ‘Fairness indicators’ • Aligning local provision: community budgets; childcare; health; housing; skills • Information for contractors and individuals: labour market info; employers; welfare advice • Increasing performance: competition and collaboration
Performance: key drivers • Initial job match: knowing employers and local labour markets; routes to paid jobs • Maximising sustained employment: in-work support; income maximisation; skills; careers • Combining specialist support: personalising services; health; older workers; drugs; etc • Reaching deprived and isolated areas: sharing costs; outreach and community credibility • Innovation: lots of it!
Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion • Dave.simmonds@cesi.org.uk • www.cesi.org.uk • www.indusdelta.co.uk • www.advancew2w.org.uk