Publishing Template

Publishing Template Annex 4 Name of Strategy/Project/Change: Flexible New Deal Wrexham Test Site. Person(s) Responsible for Assessment: Graham Godfrey Geographic Location of change (i.e. National / Region / District): Wrexham Contact Details: Name: Telephone: Email: Nicola Bellis 01244 583722 nicola.bellis@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk Stage 1: Screening Q1. Have you identified the aims of the proposed change? Background: The provisions of the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000, Disability Discrimination Act 2000 and the Equality Bill make it mandatory for all public authorities to assess all of their policies and functions. All proposed policies that are to be introduced or reviewed by public bodies must be screened for their relevance to the Race Equality Duty. The Duty states that public authorities must have „due regard‟ to:      Eliminate unlawful racial discrimination Eliminate sex discrimination Eliminate disability discrimination Promote equality of opportunity Promote good race relations between people from different racial groups Jobcentre Plus is planning to test flexible New Deal Process from 21.4.08 in 4 locations – Wandsworth Jobcentre Plus, Wrexham Jobcentre Plus, Edinburgh High Riggs Jobcentre Plus, and The Marches Jobcentre Plus District (which covers the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Worcestershire). The UK is currently experiencing one of the highest employment rates and lowest unemployment rates of any of the world‟s leading economies. Since 1997 the New Deal has led a major transformation in employment support for people in Britain However, there is still much to do and the Government has set a number of stretching targets, for example to eradicate child poverty in a generation, and it aspires to a UK employment rate of 80%. Over recent years the performance of the mandatory New Deals has diminished in terms of job entries and questions have arisen over comparative cost effectiveness. Our experiences of Employment Programmes since 1998 suggest moving towards a more flexible, tailored Approach to boost performance. Proposals The Green Paper “In Work Better off: next steps to full employment” published in July 2007, and the response “Ready for Work: full employment in our generation” published in December 2007 set out the government‟s proposals for reforming the JSA regime and mandatory New Deals. They outlined changes to strengthen JSA and introduce a new, Flexible New Deal for all job seekers based on a tailored, flexible approach to employment support introduced. This will replace the current, separate New Deals for young people and unemployed adults, including Employment Zones (EZs) and Private Sector led New Deals and will be delivered in partnership with public, private and voluntary sector contractors. The new programme will provide increasing levels of support with increasing duration of JSA claim with a corresponding increase in the requirements placed upon customers. Impact for customers All customers making a claim for JSA within the pilot areas will be advised as part of the new claim process how flexible New Deal (fND) will impact them personally. Existing customers will be personally advised at their next advisory intervention on how fND will impact their ongoing claim. In addition a leaflet has been produced to advise customers generally about flexible New Deal. Screening the processes will assist in identifying if there may be      Differential impact on certain groups If some groups may have special requirements Whether groups may have particular needs (example: because of disability)· If the policy may hinder equality of opportunity If the policy may promote equality of opportunity The flexible New Deal (fND) The flexible New Deal will modernise and streamline the existing New Deals to provide greater flexibility and more personalised support for people of all ages seeking employment, including self-employment. The key elements of the fND approach are:    Jobcentre Plus to lead jobsearch for the first 6 to 12 months; A Gateway stage, common to everyone and building on the current New Deal gateways, leading to more intense jobsearch activity and skills assessment, with the most disadvantaged people being fast-tracked to this stage from the outset and all others entering after six months; People still looking for work after the Gateway period to be referred to a specialist provider. (not available in the test) The flexible New Deal will combine the current mandatory New Deals: New Deal 25 Plus and New Deal for Young People, Private Sector Lead New Deals and Employment Zones. The New Deal for Musicians and New Deal 50 plus will also be subsumed within it. We intend to Introduce the flexible New Deal progressively from April 2009. The test will cover the „self-help‟ stage – including Back to Work sessions, the „directed job search‟ stage – including targeted interviewing, and the „gateway‟. These 3 stages cover 0-12 months of a claim for the majority of JSA customers (see table below for the key stages of fND). The test will only operate with customers on Jobseekers Allowance. At the beginning of a claim Many claims for Jobseeker‟s Allowance are by people who leave the benefit quickly – around six out of 10 jobseekers leave during the first 13 weeks. We are making two important improvements to the early stages of a claim for Jobseeker‟s Allowance to increase the level of help available. Firstly, at the new claim interview, we are emphasising the requirement for the adviser to undertake a „light touch‟ skills screen to identify any potential basic literacy, numeracy and language skills needs and record the customer‟s highest qualification level. The content of the light touch screen remains unchanged and consists of:  Observing the customer‟s ability to read, write and/or speak English;  Discussing any previous experience a customer may have in a work environment;  Looking at areas in a customer‟s life where English and Maths are used e.g. is the customer involved in any leisure activities that suggests they use these skills for example club treasurer or secretary?  Collecting details of customer‟s highest level qualification For the fND/Skills pilots, if the light touch screen suggests that the customer has a problem with basic skills and/or ESOL that is preventing them from obtaining sustainable work, the advisor should make a referral to the Employability Skills Programme (ESP) or other appropriate basic skills provision. Secondly, we are adding a mandatory back to work group session at to be completed between week six and eight of the claim to cover the Rights and Responsibilities for receipt of Jobseekers Allowance and reinforce the importance of work and encourage access to the help on offer through Jobcentre Plus. Testing of the back to work group sessions began in January 2008 and will look at the feasibility of including IAG advisers at these sessions. Back to work sessions will need to be included in this evaluation. Three months into a claim Jobseekers whose own efforts have not succeeded after three months will be required to widen the scope of jobs they look for, to include any suitable job, and we will introduce greater direction of jobsearch by Jobcentre Plus staff. Everyone will have an adviser interview and be submitted to a suitable job. Weekly rather than fortnightly attendance at Jobcentre Plus will also be required for the next six weeks. The Customer Assessment Tool (CAT) will be used to identify around a fifth of customers with particularly poor employment histories or other difficulties and these will have 2 additional Targeted Reviews with a personal adviser to provide additional help and encouragement. These customers will also have a mandatory 10minute basic skills assessment. The skills assessment will comprise either the Fast Track Assessment or the Skills for Life Skills Check tool. We would like basic skills screening to occur at the first possible targeted interview. If the 10minute screen suggests that the customer has a problem with basic skills that is preventing them from obtaining sustainable work, the advisor should make a referral to the Employability Skills Programme (ESP) or other appropriate basic skills provision. All customers identified with a skills need at the first targeted interview will be followed up by the adviser at the second interview to find out the outcome i.e. did they go to the IAG service, what training have they been referred to – full time/part time. Six months into a claim After six months, around eight out of every 10 customers will have left Jobseeker‟s Allowance and after a year the figure reaches about nine in 10. After six months, all customers will enter a single fND Gateway lasting for up to six months. For those aged over 25, this brings forward more intensive help by a year. For most people this will be after six months on benefit, but some people will be fast-tracked from the start of their claim (see below). The initial Gateway interview with the adviser will determine the customer‟s action plan. The action plan must be stretching and will cover activity over and above that of the Jobseeker‟s Agreement, which will remain. In addition to some common basics – for example, updating CVs – the adviser will assess the customer‟s needs and identify between 1 and 3 specific activities that they must do to improve employability and find work. Advisers will draw on JCP funded and other local partners‟ provision in identifying the activities. The adviser and customer will agree the activity and the timetable for achieving it. The customer will be seen by their adviser every four weeks, weekly rather than fortnightly attendance at Jobcentre Plus will also be required for the next six weeks followed by regular fortnightly as attendance as now between adviser interviews, to check on progress. As part of the first Gateway interview, all customers who did not attend additional Targeted Reviews reviews following the three month interview will receive the 10-minute basic skills assessment. The 10-minute screen will comprise either the Fast Track Assessment or the Skills for Life Skills Check tool. The adviser will refer those customers who have been identified with a potential basic skills need and who they think would benefit from help with this to get them into sustainable employment, to further basic skills assessment and provision. This could be one of their mandatory gateway options if appropriate. Early entry to the Gateway We must do more to support people who return repeatedly to long-term unemployment. To improve all customers‟ chances of finding sustained work as quickly as possible, we will fasttrack the most disadvantaged to the more intensive Gateway from day one of their claim. We will continue to allow people in vulnerable groups the opportunity to volunteer to enter the Gateway early, subject to capacity. Twelve months into a claim (for information only) At the end of the intensive Gateway with Jobcentre Plus, jobseekers who remain on benefit will be referred to an external provider for further, specialist help. Customers will remain in contact with Jobcentre Plus throughout this stage. People who move across to an external provider will remain on Jobseeker‟s Allowance. They will continue to attend a Jobcentre Plus office on a fortnightly basis unless they undertake a period of training or other activity outside the Jobseeker‟s Allowance rules, when they will receive a training allowance. It will be Jobcentre Plus‟ continuing responsibility to oversee the jobseeker‟s journey through the flexible New Deal and the payment of the allowance appropriate to the work-related activity. Those who fail to get work at the end of the contracted period will return to Jobcentre Plus who will build on the progress that has been made. We are looking further at what expectations we should have of those who remain unemployed at the end of the period with providers. Intensive, personalised and tailored support will be matched by increased obligations. All staff within the office will receive training on fND. Staff in particular job roles - advisory and interventionists will receive full training on the impact to their role, and revised processes for their customers. In addition staff within the test sites have been involved with the design of the test, putting forward their ideas and views through a series of workshops to build customer focused detailed processes. Q2. What data on the diversity of both your customers and staff is available to you? About Wrexham. Millions of pounds worth of public and private finance has been invested in schools, roads, colleges, healthcare and the retail sector. The historic market town with basic industries has been transformed into North Wales‟ premier administrative, educational, commercial, shopping, cultural and industrial centre. Wrexham has a growing education sector, which includes the renowned Yale College of Further Education and the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education, which is actively seeking University status. The Wrexham Maelor Hospital, the largest single site hospital in North Wales, has recently undergone an extensive multi-million pound programme of modernisation and growing academic status in conjunction with the University of Wales College of Medicine. In addition to the £150 million already poured into the town centre with a large leisure and retail development close to the town centre being planned. A further £10 million non-food retail scheme has recently been completed. Wrexham data. Data is attached as Appendices 1, 2 and 3. Customers Appendix 1 shows a breakdown by religion as at April 2001. Appendix 2 shows a breakdown of ethnicity as at April 2001. Appendix 3 shows a 2006 mid year estimate of population age breakdown. Appendix 4 shows primary benefit claimants data for Wrexham as at May 2007. Jobcentre Plus Staff  There is no specific information available relating to Jobcentre Plus staff. Q3. Does collected data show that there may be a disproportionate or adverse impact on either customers or staff? Community and organisation engagement As part of the design process customers have been engaged to provide their views on the support Jobcentre Plus has provided and how this could be reviewed. This has been done using questionnaires, and targeting customers who have moved through the existing New Deal processes. Their feedback has been fed into the design for fND. Presentations have been delivered to key providers on the proposals for fND. The local MP‟s have been written to about the pilot, and a mailshot has been sent to all external stakeholders in the area, such as welfare rights, CAB‟s refugee council, and local authority. Evaluation Evaluation will be an integral part of the pilot to explore the impact flexible New Deal has had on JCP customers, staff and other stakeholders. It will evaluate the implementation of revised processes for jobseekers Allowance customers, skills screening and referral process. The review will also monitor the impact of fND processes on benefit off-flows and employment outcomes. From current baseline data of the 100% of customers at stage 1, 44% of these will move onto stage 2, 22% will progress to stage 3, and 8% move onto provision. The implementation of the flexible New Deal test initial screening has not identified any potential adverse impact for particular groups of customers. The evaluation approach outlined above will ensure that there will be a consistent approach in monitoring through the life of the pilot. (If you have answered no to Q3 then you should now make arrangements for the template to be published, if you have answered yes you need to continue to Stage 2) Appendix 1: Religion by unitary authority, April 2001 Census. Numbers Wrexham Christian 99,309 Buddhist 173 Hindu 167 Jewish 54 Muslim 343 Sikh 33 Other religions 129 No religion 18,630 Religion All people not stated 9,638 128,476 Appendix 2: Ethnicity by unitary authority, April 2001 Census. 2001 Census of Population Wrexham All People 128,482 % White 98.9% % Mixed 0.4% Asian or Asian British 468 % Asian or Asian British 0.4% Black or Black British 128 % Black or Black British 0.1% Chinese or other ethnic group 367 % Chinese or other ethnic group 0.3% White 127,069 Mixed 450 Appendix 3: Population Age Breakdown – Mid year estimate 2006 (Remaining data from the Annual Population Survey (APS). The APS is a combined survey of households in Great Britain. Its purpose is to provide information on key social and socio-economic variables between the 10-yearly censuses, with particular emphasis on providing information relating to sub-regional (local authority) areas. Due to sample size limitations, APS data is not available below local authority level i.e. data is not available for wards or super output areas). Mid year estimate 2006 131,000 % Less than 16 yrs 19% % 16-17 yrs 3% % 1824 yrs 9% % 25-49 yrs 34% % 50-64 yrs 17% % 65 yrs+ 19% Wrexham Male 42,400 Female 38,600 Total 81,000 % Male 52% % Female 48% All employment age 16+ 63,600 All Inactive – Working Age 15,900 All Working Age Disabled 14,100 Identified as Welsh 76,900 Employment % 60.9% Male Employment % 67.5% Female Employment % 54.6% All employment age 16+ 63,600 % All Inactive 19.7% % Male Inactive 15.0% Male Disabled % 17.3% Age 3+ & who speak Welsh 29,900 % Female Inactive 24.9% All Inactive – Working Age 15,900 Disabled % 17.6% % of Population 59.8% Female Disabled % 17.8% All Working Age Disabled 14,100 % Population 3yrs+ 24.1% Identified as Welsh 76,900 Appendix 4: Primary Benefit Claimants Data for Wrexham. Working Age Benefits All claiming a working age benefit (***) May-07 14,275 JSA customers % (**) 17.1 Aug-07 1,636 IB/SDA customers (***) % (**) May-07 2 7,595 % (**) 9.4 IS customers (***) May-07 4,715 % (**) 5.8 Wrexham (**) % of population of working age (***) Customer data relating to working age benefits - Source: Information Directorate The figures have been taken from the 100% scan at May 2007 from MIDAS via the Generalised Matching Service. All benefits data represents a snapshot in time of claimants on the different administrative computer systems. This will therefore exclude clerical cases, does not include retrospection and may therefore differ from officially published figures. The JSA data for August 07 is fully in the public domain