Flexible Support Fund

Creating local Opportunities with the Flexible Support Fund

In partnership with local authorities, colleges and private providers.

Emma Davis

Gloucestershire and West of England

David Sanderson Bristol City Council

Flexible Support Fund

The Flexible Support Fund (FSF) is an important part of the Jobcentre Plus (JCP) Pre Work Programme offer

It is designed to maximise off flows into employment from benefits at the earliest possible opportunity

FSF is a key enabler for Jobcentre Plus Districts, providing an opportunity to support the delivery of locally identified customer needs, and help to address the requirements of the local labour market

Use of JCP staff’s local knowledge Analysis of MI Customer Insight Provider/Partnership input

Concept

Initial Analysis

Strategic aims of GWE Flexible Support Fund

• Advisory teams• Local Authorities• Existing partnerships• Provider input• Historical District information• Customer need • Mapped these gaps against existing provision• Filled the gaps in a variety of ways.

• FSF used to add new and innovative provision driven by Jobseeker, Employer and Adviser insight.

• FSF used to pump prime existing and new partnerships• To mobilise Partners, Providers and Employers around the

issue of unemployment.• Using a mixed economy built around FSF hierarchy

Identified needs of customers through extensive engagement

with;

Flexible Support Fund

Intelligent MI Ongoing analysis to

understand the needs of customers

locally

Current ProvisionWork to understand

and fully utilise existing provision

Designing SolutionPilot -

TewkesburyDevelop concept

Analysis and refinement

Engage with partners

Identify where unsatisfied needs exist

GAPAN

LYSIS

Flexible Support Fund

In depth independent Diagnostic assessment

Mentoring

Focus on job outcomes and sustainability

Use of initiatives to facilitate increased partnership working (JCP, LA’s, Providers and Employers) in achieving shared goals

Importance of customer insight in informing and developing future initiatives

Key Components of the “Opportunity” model :

Flexible Support Fund

Engagement with Partners

Sharing Priorities

Co-ordination of Funding

Use of Local contacts/knowledge

Targeting support to maximise impact

Putting the Customer at the heart of the business

Delivering the Vision

Unlocking the Register

• Enhanced Support Contract modules will directly impact at least 5% of the GWE register

• “Opportunity” models will directly impact and additional 7 -8% of GWE register

• Spending FSF to directly impact on 13% of the register by working collaboratively with Partners Providers and Employers will unlock additional new opportunities sustainable past the end of each each programme.

• Our partnership working has enabled us to secure Match Funding, to date this amount stands at £1.160m

• And has also enabled us to develop bespoke innovative support not requiring funding.

We are using the learning from each Grant/Contract to improve and

enhance all of our other programmes

Early results

Opportunity Tewkesbury

42% positive outcome

20.5% into work

22.3% signed off the register –“Support and Challenge”.