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1. Welcome to our first edition of NEWS newsletter. I am delighted to be writing the foreword of the first edition of our new revised externalnewsletter which we will be sending to all our key partners and stakeholders across the newly formed Southern England Group. Some of you may be aware that following the recent restructure of Jobcentre Plus we have merged the South East & South West regions to become the new Southern England Group. More recently, following an internal reorganisation of our business I am pleased to be taking on the role of Southern England Group Senior Partnerships Manager leading a small team that will be responsible for working with key stakeholders and partners across the new Group. We are keen to ensure that you are kept up to date with the welfare reform agenda and other key changes within Jobcentre Plus, therefore we will be producing a revamped regular newsletter. This will include key Jobcentre Plus messages and information we hope you will find useful. I hope you find the content of this newsletter helpful, feel free to send us your comments and suggestions. I look forward to working with many of you in the future . Lynda Jones Southern EnglandGroup Senior Partnerships Manager Contents . . • To open links contained • in this newsletter right click on the link & “open hyperlink” • Budget Report 2011 • Targets for Jobcentre Plus • 2011/2012 • Welfare Reform Update • Get Britain Working • Work Programme • Work Experience • New Enterprise Allowance • Enterprise Clubs • Mandatory Work Activity • Skills Conditionality • Useful websites

2. Budget Report 2011 What measures were announced ? To widen the eligibility for Work Experience to include customers aged 22-24. To extend the upper time limit for Work Experience from 8 to 12 weeks to provide a structured route for young people to progress from then Work Experience programme into 40,000 additional apprenticeships funded and delivered through BIS over the next four years. To expand on our plans to introduce opportunities that offer sector specific training combined with work experience with an employer in that sector. To increase the funding to cover start up costs for Work or Enterprise Clubs. • The Chancellor’s Budget Report to Parliament included a number of changes that will affect DWP, Jobcentre Plus and our customers, in particular the announcement of additional support to tackle youth unemployment. • The measures announced will build on the existing Get Britain Working measures and affirm our commitment to reduce unemployment across the country. • This enhanced package of support will help young people move into the labour market through opportunities that offer work experience, skills training, guaranteed interviews and progression into apprenticeships. • The expanded offer announced in the budget will increase the number of Work Experience places from 20,000 to 100,000 places over the next two years. • To make this work Jobcentre Plus will: • • engage and encourage employers, Further Education colleges, the National Apprenticeship Service and Local Enterprise Partnerships to design and deliver work experience, pre-employment training, jobs and apprenticeship opportunities for young people; • • maximise effective partnership working to make the most of those opportunities by identifying, referring and placing young people on them; • • play its part in supporting DWP’s commitment of offering 4,000 Work Experience placements over the next two years by identifying suitable opportunities across the organisation; • • give Jobcentre Plus District Managers greater flexibility to use the Flexible Support Fund innovatively to tackle specific needs in their localities.

3. Targets for Jobcentre Plus2011-2012 What are the expected levels of performance ? The expected levels of performance for the two outcome measures are still being finalised . The levels will be published in the near future. The new performance management framework supports the “Jobcentre Plus offer “ by moving focus away from business process. It will drive the delivery of outcomes by giving greater freedom and flexibility to our advisers. It will empower them to take decisions on the best way to achieve job outcomes for individuals based on their specific needs, rather than on their characteristics or their length of claim. This new approach requires a cultural change that will put the customers at the heart of all that we do by moving us away from performance measurement and towards performance management. • Jobcentre Plus will now have just two outcome measures for which it will be accountable to ministers and the Department. They will be published as part of the Transparency Framework. • These two measures are key in supporting Jobcentre Plus’ role in delivering the Department for Work and Pensions’ vision to create a welfare system for the 21st century; to transform the opportunity for people without jobs to find work and support themselves and their families; and to ensure that the most vulnerable in society are protected. • To support the achievement of the two outcome measures there is also a range of supporting data. The data provides information to assist both operational delivery and policy assurance and design. This means we will still be able to measure and understand processes and activities. • Benefit off-flow rates in to employment • Jobcentre Plus helps move people off benefits and in to employment more quickly than would otherwise be the case . Our new labour market measure “off-flow rates to employment” will be used to understand how well we do this. • There are two elements to the outcome measure: • Off – flow rates measure the percentage of customers leaving Jobseekers Allowance , Employment Support Allowance and Income Support after a number of weeks, and • Into employment measures the proportion of people leaving benefit that move to recorded employment. • Monetary value of fraud and error ( MVFE ) • This is a measure of the percentage of benefit paid incorrectly (both over and under paid ) because of fraud or error. It covers Jobseekers Allowance and Income Support claims only . • Although not included in this measure, we will still need to monitor potential inaccuracies for Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, and all other customers, to provide good customer service and safeguard the reputation of the business.

4. What is in the Welfare Reform Bill ? • Information on what is included in the Welfare Bill can be found on the following link: • Welfare Reform Bill • Where can I find out more about Universal Credit ? • The following links gives more information . • Universal Credit • How will the reassessment affect Customers? • Customer fact sheet – incapacity benefits reassessment (56KB) – updated 25 February 2011 Welfare Reform Update • On 16 February 2011 the Welfare Reform Bill was introduced to Parliament. The bill introduces a wide range of reforms to make the benefits and tax credits system fairer and simpler by : • Creating the right incentive to get more people into work by ensuring work always pays • Protecting the most vulnerable in our society • Delivering fairness to those claiming benefit and to the tax payer. • There are three major elements to the government’s plans for changes to the welfare and welfare to work systems . • Universal Credit : • Plans are now under way to replace a number of the existing out of work benefits and tax credits with the Universal Credit. The credit will be structured in such a way that the support for claimants tapers off at a steady rate once the claimant gets into work, meaning that they will always be better off working more hours or earning more money. • Currently the legal changes needed for this are being debated in the House of Commons and, if all goes well, this should be approved later this year. We will give you more information as this progresses, but the Universal Credit is on track to be launched for new claims in 2013. • Incapacity Benefit Reassessment: • The government has the aim of moving more than 1.5 million claimants off Incapacity Benefit, either on to Employment & Support Allowance ( ESA ) or, if they are found fit for work, on to Jobseekers Allowance ( JSA ) . • We have already made a number of changes to the process we will use to assess existing Incapacity Benefit claimants as a result of an independent review by Professor Harrington and as a result of the early trials. • We will also be making changes to the way we assess new claimants to ESA, and we will let you know more about this new approach in the near future. • Work Programme • This will replace many of our existing employment programmes, and will start in June in most parts of the country. This is a very new approach to this kind of work with the longer term unemployed, as the providers will be paid on a payment by results basis. • Further information follows under Get Britain Working.

5. What’s different about The Work Programme? • It will be the biggest payment by results employment programme in the UK. • Payment primarily for sustained employment rather than process. • Will pay providers to support customers in work for up to 2 years. • Providers free to innovate and find what works best . • Support will be tailored to individual need rather than benefit claimed. • Differential pricing- providers will be paid more for some customer groups, reflecting higher costs of supporting into sustained employment. • 2 year programme – long enough for providers to earn an outcome if they invest in supporting those with the most serious & complex disadvantages. Get Britain Working Update • Get Britain Working includes a number of measures to support Jobcentre Plus customers and includes the new Work Programme. • The key measures include: • Work Clubs • Work Together • Work Experience • New Enterprise Allowance • Enterprise Clubs • Service Academies • The Work Programme • Following very good competition DWP have announced preferred bidders to deliver the Work Programme across the UK. • Work Programme is the biggest payment by results employment programme in UK history. We expect 2.4 million customers to benefit from the personalised support it offers. • The welfare to work market will be transformed. There will be 18 prime contractors and in total around 750 organisations will be involved in delivery, including almost 300 specialist voluntary sector organisations. • This represents an estimated investment of around £95m in the voluntary sector. • All out of work benefit claimants will be eligible at some point in their claim, including many who have been without support for many years. • There will be strong incentives for providers to help all customers overcome their individual challenges. • We remain on track to go live nationally this summer.

6. Get Britain Working Update Which providers have been selected as preferred suppliers in the Southern Group ? Contract Package Area 9 South East covering: Hampshire &Isle of Wight Thames Valley A4E Maximus Contract Package Area 10 South East covering: Kent Surrey & Sussex Avanta G4S Contract Package Area 11 South West covering: Devon & Cornwall Dorset & Somerset Prospects Working Links Contract Package Area 12 South West covering : Gloucester Swindon West of England JHP Rehab Link to :Work Programme prospectus • Work Programme continued • Local and Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) partners • We recognise the value of the specialist and local knowledge of many smaller and voluntary organisations and we made clear from the start that we expect high levels of voluntary and community sector (VCS) engagement in the Work Programme. • We are very pleased that 2 VCS organisations have been selected as preferred bidders. • Preferred bidders supply chains include impressive VCS sector involvement with some bidders supply chains consisting of nearly 60% VCS organisations. • This proves that VCS organisations have a role to play, not only as sub-contractors but as prime contractors as well and we hope that this will encourage many more to consider engaging with government on this level. • However, we have run a competitive procurement exercise in order to obtain maximum value for the taxpayer, so naturally there are people who have missed out on contracts. • We will ensure smaller and voluntary sector subcontractors are protected. The Merlin standard will now have contractual force, so prime providers will have to manage their supply chains fairly. • Procurement • We received 177 bids from 30 organisations, with between 6 and 13 bids in each of the contract package areas. • Interest was sufficiently widespread and bids of sufficiently high quality to allow us to announce at least 2 preferred bidders in each CPA, ensuring ongoing competition in live running. • A total of 18 organisations will be involved in delivery. • The procurement competition, will lead to further expected savings to the taxpayer of approximately £200m in programme costs. • The Work Programme is also a boost for small and medium size enterprises, around half of all private sector organisations involved in the Work Programme supply chains will be SME. • Overall we expect the private sector to make a total net investment of approximately £580m in the Work Programme in the first year of operation.

7. What is Work Experience? This offers young people the opportunity to gain the work experience they need to secure a job before they become eligible for the Work Programme. Those undertaking a Work Experience placement continue to receive their benefit and continue to look for permanent work. Link to further information on Work Experience New Enterprise Allowance This is being rolled out on a staged basis. Devon & Cornwall will be offering NEA from 31 May 2011 with the rest of our districts offering it from 1 August 2011. NEA national rollout timetable Organisations interested in applying for funding to help deliver NEA should access the following link for further information on the application process . New Enterprise Allowance Enterprise Clubs If you are interested in setting up a local Enterprise Club see link for further information on how to get involved. Enterprise Clubs Get Britain WorkingUpdate • Work Experience • From 26 April 2011 the following changes to the Work Experience offer will take place: • Eligibility will be widened to include JSA customers aged 22 – 24 • ( so now covers 18-24 year olds). • To extend the upper time limit from 8 weeks to 12 weeks, which will provide a structured route for young people to progress from Work Experience in to apprenticeships . • Payment of travel and accommodation expenses can now be given in advance . • A sanctions regime will be introduced. • Participation in Work Experience will become mandatory once a customer has accepted a placement. Regulations have been amended to support this change. • New Enterprise Allowance ( NEA) • This offers extra help to unemployed people who want to start • their own business. NEA will be available to Jobseekers • Allowance customers who have been claiming for 26 weeks or • more. • Participants will get access to a volunteer business mentor who • will provide guidance and support as they develop their business • plan and through the early months of trading. Once a customer • can demonstrate they have a viable business proposition with • the potential for growth in the future, they will be able to access • financial support. This will consist of: • a weekly allowance worth £1,274 over 26 weeks, paid at £65 a week for the first 13 weeks and £33 a week for a further 13 weeks, and • if they need start-up capital, they may also be able to access a loan up to £1,000 to help with their start-up costs. • The total package of support could be worth up to £2,274 to each • participant who starts their own business. • Enterprise Clubs • These are a Great Britain wide initiative which aims to support the • development of a network of locally led, community based • support targeted at unemployed people interested in self • employment.

8. Who will deliver the Who will deliver Mandatory Work Activity ? On 12 April 2011, DWP announced the successful organisations on ourwebsite Please note in South East the preferred bidder has changed and is now A4E. The preferred bidder in South West is Rehab Group When will this be available ? Jobcentre Plus Advisers will be able to commence referrals from 3 May 2011. Who will be eligible ? This is available for customers who are have been unemployed for 13 weeks and claiming JSA. However, in certain cases referrals can be made from Day One. To Note : Nationally there will be limited places available and any referral will be discussed and agreed within the local Jobcentre Plus office. Mandatory Work Activity • Through the introduction of Mandatory Work Activity, we are giving extra support to a small number of Jobseeker’s Allowance customers who would benefit from experiencing a short period of activity. • This activity will help them re-engage with the system, refocus their job search and gain valuable work related disciplines, such as attending on time and regularly, carrying out specific tasks and working under supervision. • Jobcentre Plus advisers will have the flexibility to use Mandatory Work Activity, where they feel this is appropriate, as part of a wider range of support options. This approach will help ensure that all customers receive the personalised, responsive support that they need to find employment. • What does Mandatory Work Activity involve? • Mandatory Work Activity placements will be for up to 30 hours a week, lasting for 4 weeks and deliver a contribution to the local community. • Customers will be referred to Mandatory Work Activity when they have demonstrated that they require support to gain work related disciplines and re-engage with their search for work. • Mandatory Work Activity placements will be delivered by contracted providers. • Providers will deliver around 19,000 placements per year, at an annual cost of £8million. • Whilst participating in Mandatory Work Activity, customers will continue to receive Jobseeker’s Allowance and will be expected to continue to seek work. • Customers who fail to start or complete Mandatory Work Activity without good cause will receive a fixed financial sanction for a minimum of 3 months.

9. Skills Conditionality The Government is committed to ensuring that people prevented from getting and keeping a job by a lack of skills are supported and encouraged to address their learning needs. Regulations will make provision for Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) and Employment Support Allowance (Work-Related Activity Group) (ESA WRAG) claimants to be referred to skills provision on a mandatory basis. This means that where a requirement is placed on a claimant to attend training and they subsequently fail to attend or complete skills provision without good cause, they could potentially be subject to a benefit sanction. Following the Government’s decision to roll out Skills Conditionality, a consultation document was published on 9 December 2010. The consultation, conducted jointly by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), sought views to inform the implementation of Skills Conditionality. Skills conditionality involves Jobcentre Plus referring claimants to a skills training provider, Further Education College or Next Step adviser with potential benefit sanctions for non-participation. The training will include vocational skills; basic skills, such as literacy, numeracy and employability training. The aim of the policy is to ensure that those claimants on active benefits who have a skills need preventing them from getting and keeping a job take the necessary steps to address that need as part of their journey back to work. The consultation period ended on 3 February 2011 and work is being currently undertaken to review the delivery plans in light of the consultation for national implementation in August 2011. Further information in the following link : Skills Conditionality Useful websites Right click on link and select “open hyperlink” The DWP website contains general information about the government’s welfare reform agenda. Direct Gov website DWP Adviser Welfare Reform Bill 2011 - DWP A new link has now been added to What's new. Direct Gov contains information about all Jobcentre Plus services and future changes. The DWP monthly electronic newsletter Touch base e-zine is available – to access right click on the link below and select open hyperlink Keeping in Touch Tell us what you think If you have any comments regarding this update or indeed would like to raise any issues please contact: South East – Ailsa Rose Ailsa.rose@dwp.gsi.gov.uk South West – Gaynor Clarke Gaynor.clarke1@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk Please note if you do not wish to receive this update or you would like it forwarded to an alternative address , please us know.