Innovation in the Work Programme

1

Stephen Evans

WORKING LINKS BACKGROUND

1.

2

About Working Links

3

• Established in 2000 to support unemployed and disadvantaged individuals into lasting employment.

•Unique mix of government, private and voluntary sector ownership.

•To date, we’ve worked with over 15,000 employers and helped more than 250,000 people back into work.

Delivery in Britain

Scotland- Work Programme

Wales & South West-Work Programme-Work Choice

North England-Apprenticeships-Employability

London & South East-Work Choice-NOMS Moving On

E & W Mids-Apprenticeships-NEETS-ESF Families

WORK PROGRAMME EVIDENCE

2.

5

Work Programme delivery model

REFERRAL• From Jobcentre Plus

• Invitation letter• Induction session

ASSESSMENTMy Way Up:Employability, Skills, LifestyleHealth, Goals, Attitudes

INTO WORK SUPPORT

Dedicated Personal AdvisorFlexible support (such as CV, Job search, Work experience, Training, Health, Coaching)

IN WORK SUPPORTDedicated In-Work Support AdvisorFlexible supportHelp to find next job and build career

4%

3%7%

10%

Demographic data

Impact on job entry

Demographic dataWork history and experience are crucial. Once people get a foot in the door they can stay in work, but this helps them get the foot in the door. The longer you’re out of work the less likely you are to find a job

Training and qualifications are a pre-requisite. Employers use these to filter, so need to be job relevant and valued by employers

Confidence looking for work is a crucial signal

Our customers are a diverse group. Other issues like caring responsibilities and health impact

INNOVATING IN THE WORK PROGRAMME

3.

10

Case study: ESAChallenge•Performance across the industry needs to further improve

Response •Personal Job Account trial for 100 customers in Wales•Menu of provision to choose from & rate•Go live in late July for 9 month trial

Insight•Focus groups & data showed differing results per different conditions•Range of different challenges•Social care showed personal budgets can succeed

Case study: TechnologyChallenge•Delivering employability training in a way that engages

Response •Trial in partnership with My Work Search for 150 customers in South West•Early days but popular with customers (volunteers!) and better link to job search•Measure success by completion rates and job entry

Insight•Greater online delivery could save money and allow people to proceed at their own pace•Also reduce need for classroom based approach

Case study: NEETsChallenge•Engaging NEETs for Birmingham SFA contract

Response •Youth Innovation Board and ‘you said, we did’•So far ½ of Initiate participants have moved into further education & training•90% said the programme had aided their progression

Insight•Greater involvement of young people in design of provision might gain greater buy-in and better results

LOOKING AHEAD4.

14

Aims Context-There will be less money for all employment and skills programmes-So need to ensure more than ever that every £ is well used

Evidence-based innovation-Way to do that is through evidence-based innovation-Effective use of data & constant innovation: test, learn, adapt

Outward facing •We don’t have all the answers, keen to hear from those with ideas

Aims (2)Assessment & streaming-How can we use data analytics to better predict who is least likely to find work & target support?-Useful for Work Programme, but also upstream (eg JCP)

Job search support-How do we deliver in a more tech based, self service way, while providing more intensive support for those that need it?-Use of remote support, Apps, text etc

Retention & progression •Adding in progression support for a Universal Credit world