Responding to Change in Jobcentres

Responding to Change in Jobcentres PDF Author: Great Britain: National Audit Office
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780102981292
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 50

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Book Description
The Department for Work and Pensions' network of jobcentres has coped well in the face of the economic downturn but it must improve how it tracks and understands performance. In six months (between September 2008 and March 2009), Jobseeker's Allowance claimant numbers increased by two-thirds (from 0.9 million to 1.5 million). The Department relaxed requirements about the activities that jobcentre staff needed to undertake during 2008-09 and 2009-10, which meant jobcentres were able to prioritize checking eligibility for benefits and making sure claimants were paid. However, although the Department has continued to pursue efficiency, variations in case load across jobcentres suggest further gains may be possible. The Department has simplified its performance measures and now primarily targets the move by claimants away from benefits, or 'off-flow'but this gives no information about how individual jobcentres perform in supporting claimants to work. In 40 per cent of cases, the reason for moving off benefits is simply not recorded or claimants may have moved onto other benefits, been imprisoned or ceased claiming without taking up work. The Department has yet to decide how to adapt off-flow measures after the introduction of Universal Credit, which merges out-of-work and in-work benefits. The need to understand performance has been increased by the Department's move away from nationally mandated processes towards encouraging jobcentre staff to tailor support for claimants. While flexibility encourages local innovation, the Department needs to broaden its evaluation of new approaches and improve performance measures if greater flexibility is to lead to better services.

Responding to Change in Jobcentres

Responding to Change in Jobcentres PDF Author: Great Britain: National Audit Office
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780102981292
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 50

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Department for Work and Pensions' network of jobcentres has coped well in the face of the economic downturn but it must improve how it tracks and understands performance. In six months (between September 2008 and March 2009), Jobseeker's Allowance claimant numbers increased by two-thirds (from 0.9 million to 1.5 million). The Department relaxed requirements about the activities that jobcentre staff needed to undertake during 2008-09 and 2009-10, which meant jobcentres were able to prioritize checking eligibility for benefits and making sure claimants were paid. However, although the Department has continued to pursue efficiency, variations in case load across jobcentres suggest further gains may be possible. The Department has simplified its performance measures and now primarily targets the move by claimants away from benefits, or 'off-flow'but this gives no information about how individual jobcentres perform in supporting claimants to work. In 40 per cent of cases, the reason for moving off benefits is simply not recorded or claimants may have moved onto other benefits, been imprisoned or ceased claiming without taking up work. The Department has yet to decide how to adapt off-flow measures after the introduction of Universal Credit, which merges out-of-work and in-work benefits. The need to understand performance has been increased by the Department's move away from nationally mandated processes towards encouraging jobcentre staff to tailor support for claimants. While flexibility encourages local innovation, the Department needs to broaden its evaluation of new approaches and improve performance measures if greater flexibility is to lead to better services.

Connecting People with Jobs Activation Policies in the United Kingdom

Connecting People with Jobs Activation Policies in the United Kingdom PDF Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN: 9264217185
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Book Description
This report examines recent activation policies in the United Kingdom aimed at moving people back into work. It offers insight into how countries can improve the effectiveness of their employment services and also control spending on benefits.

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts
Publisher: Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215058966
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 56

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Book Description
On its own, the number of people who stop claiming benefits is a flawed measure of how effective jobcentres are. The DWP needs to be clear how it will measure the performance of jobcentres under Universal Credit and understand what happens to claimants. The Department needs this information to see whether its interventions are achieving a long-term reduction in the number claiming benefits. At present 40 per cent of individuals reclaim benefit within 6 months with 60 per cent reclaiming within 2 years. Claimants who don't look for work should face consequences. But there is a risk that sanctions unfairly penalize the most vulnerable claimants, particularly those with mental health problems. Those at risk of sanctions should be given a written warning. The Department also needs to monitor by claimant group and jobcentre how many claimants are being penalized. Information is needed on how different jobcentres are managing their caseloads so that good practice can be identified and disseminated. Local flexibility also opens up the possibility that harder to help claimants, such as those with disabilities, get 'parked'. The Department needs to look closely at its ability to support disabled claimants, particularly given that these groups suffer poor outcomes under the Work Programme. Jobcentres will have to cater for new claimant groups as a consequence of the introduction of Universal Credit. People will also increasingly manage benefit claims and job searches online. Some claimants will inevitably struggle, which will increase the burden on third parties such as libraries and Citizens Advice which are themselves under severe pressure

The Roll-out of the Jobcentre Plus Office Network

The Roll-out of the Jobcentre Plus Office Network PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Committee of Public Accounts
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215523556
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description
Between 2002 and 2008 the Department for Work and Pension replaced over 1,500 jobcentres and social security offices across Great Britain with a network of just over 800 modernised Jobcentre Plus offices. The aim was to improve significantly the job-seeking experience and the delivery of benefits by providing a service similar to that offered by a bank or modern retailer. To achieve such a radical shift the Department merged the Employment Service and the Benefits Agency into a new integrated service Jobcentre Plus. This roll-out was one of the largest public sector construction programmes undertaken in the UK in recent years. Having learnt lessons from early difficulties, the project was successful in delivering nearly all the planned offices, while making savings against the original budget of £2.2 billion. The estate rationalisation generated savings of £135 million a year, and the Department estimates that the roll-out will ultimately lead to cumulative benefits of £6 billion. The successful delivery of the programme can be attributed to sound governance, intelligent use of existing guidance and external advice, strong support from the leadership of the organisation and, critically, the consistent senior management team. The successful implementation of the project has important lessons for other major government programmes.

Understanding Social Security

Understanding Social Security PDF Author: Jane Millar
Publisher: Policy Press
ISBN: 1447339495
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 353

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Book Description
The political and economic landscape of UK social security provision has changed significantly since the 2008 financial crisis. This fully revised, restructured and updated 3rd edition of a go-to text book covers all the key policy changes and their implications since the elections of 2010 and 2015. With contributions from leading academics in the field this book critically examines the design, entitlement, delivery and impact of current welfare provision. The first half of the book examines social security across the lifecycle from Child Benefit to retirement pensions. The second half focuses on key issues in policy and practice including new topics such as the realities of life on benefits in an era of austerity, and the pros and cons of Universal Basic Income. • Framework supports teachers and students, encouraging analytical thinking of issues and providing pointers to related sources • Authoritative and evidence-based arguments • Clear section and chapter summaries, overviews, questions for discussion, website resources and a bibliography • Includes tables, charts and text boxes for clarity, interest and appeal This book is suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate students of Social Policy taking modules on Social Security Policy, Poverty and Inequality, Income Support and Welfare Reform, as well as Social Work students and those on other Social Science degree programmes.

The Efficiency Savings Programme in Jobcentre Plus

The Efficiency Savings Programme in Jobcentre Plus PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Work and Pensions Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215029256
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description
Government response to HCP 834, session 2005-06, (ISBN 0215027973).

OECD Employment Outlook 2013

OECD Employment Outlook 2013 PDF Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN: 9264201297
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 270

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Book Description
The OECD Employment Outlook 2013 looks at labour markets in the wake of the crisis. It also includes chapters employment protection legislation; benefit systems, employment and training programmes and re-employment earnings and skills afer job loss.

Nordic Lessons for an Inclusive Recovery? Responses to the Impact of COVID-19 on the Labour Market

Nordic Lessons for an Inclusive Recovery? Responses to the Impact of COVID-19 on the Labour Market PDF Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN: 9264608249
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 175

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Book Description
This report examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nordic labour markets and the associated policy responses undertaken in the areas of unemployment benefits, job retention schemes, active labour market policies and skill development policies. The report discusses the details of these policy measures across Nordic countries and draws out the main lessons learned from their response to the crisis.

No More Heroines?

No More Heroines? PDF Author: Sue Bridger
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 113480329X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 227

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Book Description
With the collapse of Soviet rule and the emergence of independent Russia, the image of Russian women in the Western imagination has changed dramatically. The robust tractor drivers and athletes have been replaced by glamorous but vulnerable beauty queens or the dishevelled and downcast women trading goods on the streets. The authors of this work take a closer look at what lies behind the above images and how Russian women are coping with a very different sort of life. The main focus is on the effect of unemployment on Russian women and how they are coping with it. Based on case studies and personal interviews carried out in the Moscow region in 1993-94, No More Heroines? will provide both specialist and non-specialist alike with access to the thinking of women and their organisations in Russia today.

Gaining and Retaining a Job

Gaining and Retaining a Job PDF Author: Great Britain: National Audit Office
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0102935629
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 70

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Book Description
In 2004, of the 6.7 million disabled people of working age in Britain, 50 per cent were in employment compared to 75 per cent of the working age population as a whole. The Government has made a commitment to increase the employment rate of disabled people and to reduce the difference between their employment rate and the overall rate by 2006. This NAO report examines the barriers faced by disabled people in finding and retaining employment, the specialist programmes and schemes provided by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to address this issue, the quality and accessibility of support available, and the cost effectiveness of such schemes. The report finds that the DWP funds a broad range of schemes (which are managed by Jobcentre Plus and contracted out to a range of providers in the public, private and voluntary sectors) and is on course to meet its target for increasing the employment rate of disabled people. However, more progress is needed to ensure such programmes benefit a wider number of people, and recommendations made include the need to establish a more flexible modular approach to programmes; to improve data collection and verification schemes to monitor services; to promote enhanced efficiency through better contracting; to provide greater support and training for advisers; to improve the cost effectiveness of Remploy businesses and to ensure better support to help individuals find alternative employment if necessary; and for the DWP to develop a clearer strategy for engaging with employers at a local level.