Updated 12 September 2012
Get Britain working
As part of the Government’s drive to get Britain working, Jobcentre Plus has modernised the way it delivers its services. This gives Jobcentre Plus advisers more flexibility in assessing claimants’ individual needs. Advisers can offer the support they think most appropriate, including access to a number of get Britain working measures.
The level and type of support advisers can access to help claimants will vary in each area. Not all support is available to every claimant group and some provisions have set eligibility criteria.
The support includes:
Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants:
- a New Jobseeker Interview at which a full diagnosis of the claimant’s ability to find work will be undertaken
- an explanation of what the claimant must do to remain entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance. At the New Jobseeker Interview the claimant will agree with their Adviser a personalised jobsearch plan (the Jobseeker’s Agreement)
- further flexible advisory interviews based on the advisers assessment of the support that a claimant needs. The frequency and duration of the interviews will be determined by the Adviser
- fortnightly face to face Jobsearch review (FJRs) interviews.
Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit claimants:
- an initial New Joiner’s Work Focused Interview, at which the Adviser will confirm and explain conditions of entitlement, establish job goals and any job search activity
- assess claimant need, including any challenges they face in returning to employment
- discuss support options with the claimant
- develop an Action Plan with the claimant, which includes any actions the claimant is required to undertake
- further flexible advisory interviews at the adviser’s discretion, based on a claimant’s individual need.
Income Support claimants:
- will continue to have regular work focused interviews.
The Work Programme
The Work Programme will provide tailored support for claimants who need more help to undertake active and effective jobseeking. This means individuals will receive the specific help to overcome the barriers that prevent them from finding and sustaining work. Contracted service providers will have complete autonomy to decide how best to support the claimants referred to them. The Jobcentre Plus adviser’s role is to ensure claimants understand:
- what they can expect from the Work Programme
- when and who can access it
- what their responsibilities are when being referred to a provider.
- The Work Programme – information for advisers and intermediaries (891KB)
- The Work Programme – frequently asked questions (50KB)
- The Work Programme – information for jobseekers (Directgov)
The support on offer will be complemented by specialist disability employment programmes including:
Work Choice – Help finding work and support in a job if needed
- Work Choice (Directgov)
- Work Choice – frequently asked questions (24KB)
Access to Work – Advice and financial support to make your work and workplace more accessible
- Access to Work.(Directgov)
These will continue to provide support for disabled people facing the most complex barriers to getting and keeping a job.
Pathways to Work has now ended.
- Work schemes and programmes for disabled people (Directgov)
A flexible menu of back to work support
This is for Jobcentre Plus claimants who are not yet eligible for referral to the Work Programme and are not taking part in Work Choice or still on provision as part of the previous New Deal regime. Jobcentre Plus managers now have some choice over what support will be offered to claimants in their area based on claimant and local labour market characteristics. Not all elements will necessarily be available in all areas.
Each area has a finite amount of money at their disposal to make a range of activities possible. Managers will decide how to use and prioritise these funds to best help claimants in their locality to:
- move into work,
- improve their chances of moving into work or
- move into self-employment
- Back to Work support from Jobcentre Plus (121KB) – December 2011
This document includes a brief description of and frequently asked questions about:
- Work Together
- Work Clubs
- Work Experience
- Enterprise Clubs
- New Enterprise Allowance
- Mandatory Work Activity
- Sector-based work academies
In Work Credit – help for Lone Parents make the transition from welfare into full time work
- In Work Credit – frequently asked questions (31KB) – updated 12 September 2012
Skills conditionality – requirement for certain claimants in England toundertake activity to address an identified skills need which will help them to move into work.
Other changes to Jobcentre Plus services
Travel to Interview Scheme
The Travel to Interview Scheme has now closed. Help with travel costs incurred while attending job interviews may still be available for claimants. Their Jobcentre Plus adviser will be able to give more information. There is no automatic right for an individual to receive this additional financial support.
New Deal
New Deal is no longer available. A new range of initiatives are available under get Britain working and the Work Programme to support people into work.
Progress2work and progress2workLinkUP
Progress2work and progress2workLinkUP are ending on 30 June 2011 and will not be replaced in their existing format. Jobcentre Plus advisers will, however, be able to advise what steps claimants might take towards building on the experience of being on the programme and discuss access to the Work Programme.
