Working Links Wales Work Programme - Opportunities & Challenges

Ross Watts - Regional Employer Services Manager The Nuts & Bolts …… NEETs 8/09/2011

• Who we are & current delivery

• Work Programme – why it’s different

• Work Programme- delivery overview & customer journey

• Demystifying ‘Black Box’

• Stakeholder engagement

• Challenges and opportunities

Working Links

• Specialist provider of employability provision for people furthest away from the labour market.

• Shareholder executive from the Public, Private and Voluntary sector.

• Specific business units-Welfare to Work, Justice, Skills and Apprenticeships and International Development

•Established in 2000 as a pilot project supporting long term unemployment back into sustainable employment.

Working Links

• Working Links began in Wales in 2000 with 8 people

implementing the pilot ‘Employment Zone’

• Now employe nearly 200 people, with 22 offices across Wales

• Several contracts including Work Choice, Newday Services, and Work Programme (we’ve just gone live!!).

• We’ve helped more than 22,000 people into employment across Wales

• We understand the communities we work in

• We understand the policy and funding context in Wales

Working Links Wales

Current contract delivery • Newday Services

• ESF / NOMS Cymru • Convergence areas of Wales• Offenders/ Ex Offenders • Training & Employment Outcomes

• Work Choice• DWP Contract • South East / Mid & North Wales • 100% Sub contracted out (Scope & Shaw Trust)

• The Work Programme – (live 13th June)

The Work Programme Why it’s different ?

• UK Government’s flagship welfare to work programme - single programme to replace complex network of provision.

• Scale: geography, volume & diversity - More than 146,000 people assisted through 2 Prime Contractors & diverse supply chains.

• Signals a catalyst for change – longevity, competition, emphasis on sustainability outcomes of 2 years (payment by results model).

The Work Programme Why it’s different ?

• Combined client groups - move towards Universal Credit

• Designed to offer tailored personalised support – innovation through ‘Black Box’

• Elevated status for primes – not just contractors but key stakeholders in the worklessness & regeneration agenda pan Wales.

Eligible Customer Groups Customer Group JCP -Referral Point

From Mandatory Voluntary

JSA 25 + 12 Months Mandatory

JSA 18-24 9 Months Mandatory

JSA Early Access 3 Months Mandatory or Voluntary

JSA Ex IB 3 Months Mandatory

ESA Volunteer At Any Time Voluntary

ESA Flow (WRAG& Support Group)

At Any Time (When customers fit for work within 3 Months)

Mandatory or Voluntary

ESA Ex IB At Any Time (When customers fit for work within 3 Months)

Mandatory / Voluntary

**2 years allotted time on Programme**

Payment Trigger Points Customer Group Job Outcome Sustained Payments

(4 Weekly Payments)

JSA 25 + 26 Weeks 13 (52 Weeks)

JSA 18-24 26 Weeks 13 (52 Weeks)

JSA Early Access 13 Weeks 20 (80 Weeks)

JSA Ex IB 13 Weeks 20 (80 Weeks)

ESA Volunteer 13 Weeks 20 (80 Weeks)

ESA Flow (WRAG& Support Group)

13 Weeks 20 (80 Weeks)

ESA Ex IB 13 Weeks 26 (104 Weeks)

Working Links

AgoriadGwynedd & Anglesey

Pembrokeshire College

Pembrokeshire

Torfaen TrainingTorfaen &

Monmouthshire

RemployPowys & NPT

Tier 1Prime Contractor

BITC, RATHBONE, SALLUS, GOFAL CYMRU, SKILL WALES

Tier 2End to End Providers

Tier 3Specialist Providers

Delivery Structure

Colwyn Bay Rhyl

Mold

Wrexham

BangorHolyhead

Dolgellau Pwllheli

Machynlleth

Welshpool

Newtown

Llandrindod Wells

Brecon

Ystradgynlais

Aberystwyth

Cardigan

BridgendMaesteg

Treorchy

Pontypridd

Cardiff Newport

Caerphilly

Abertillery

TredegarEbbw Vale

Merthyr Tydfil

Bargoed

Pontypool

Cwmbran

Blaenavon

Monmouth

ChepstowAbergavenny

AberdareSwanseaAmmanford

Llanelli

Carmarthen

Pembroke Dock

Milford Haven

Haverfordwest

Work ProgrammeDelivery Locations

Key:- Working Links (78.6%) Agoriad (5.3%) Remploy (7.7%) Torfaen Training (5.2%) Pembs College (3.2%)

Neath

Port Talbot

This thing called ‘Black Box’

•What it is:• Enables innovation• Flexibility of process• Flexibility of delivery design• Flexibility of provision• Focus on sustainability• Minimum Service Levels touch points

•What it isn’t:• Funding for everything and everyone• Solely a skills programme• Open ended and bottomless

Developing the delivery model to meet customer needs • Collated best practice across contracts and functions ( Internal & supply chain)

• Analysis of best performing consultants (knowing what works )

• Holistic approach that is sensitive to customer need ( pre & post employment)

• Significant investment in technology to create an efficient customer Journey.

• Employer led

• Supported through internal and external packages of specialist support.

• Underpinned by core minimum service levels (MSL’s)

Delivery Model Overview

Referral

Induction& Assessment

My Way Up

HUB

Job Ready

ACADEMY

Moderate Barriers

COMPASS

Significant Barriers

Job Entry /

Exit

In Work

Support

Engagement

Pre –Work Support

1- 4 weeks

Employer Offer

Into Wor

k Plan

Engaging specialist support organisations • Dynamic Support Catalogue Linked to our MY WAY UP diagnostic.

• Work with organisations with the experience and delivery expertise to add real value to the customer journey.

• Value the driver not cost.

• Provides MI to drive future commissioning activity

• Dedicated manager to support the delivery of specialist service providers.

• Support across the entire customer Journey

• Alignment with existing funded programmes where applicable

• Enhances the Employer Offer – Brokering of additional provision

Specific NEET’s interventions / Programmes

• Graduate Offer In partnership with BITC (Hub)• 2 week work placement opportunity• Utilising BITC’s high profile network of Employers• CV ‘s, references and professional mentoring support

• The Launch Programme in Partnership With Rathbone Cymru (Compass)• 1 Week intensive programme • Personal Development • Enterprise project • Self managed reward activity.

Stakeholder Engagement • Housing and housing related support services have a huge role to play in supporting WL to take the “Fear Factor out of Work Programme.

• United Welsh • Tai Eryri• Carterfi Conwy • CIH (i2i)• Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd

• Pre -Work Programme engagement activity is crucial

• Using your support, knowledge and expertise to further shape services delivered

• Alignment of service provision & continuity of customer Journey

Challenges and Opportunities

• Funding model

• Random allocation from JCP

•Single programme – simplicity, longevity and flexibility

•Collaboration with other Prime the Rehab Group

•Alignment and synergy - CRITICAL

•Maximise social and economic priorities (eg regeneration, inward investment and social clauses, etc)

Our Success has always been achieved through our People, Partnerships & Employers