Updated 27 December 2012
Department for Work and Pensions ESF 2011-2013
Changes in Government and DWP delivery led to a revised approach to the DWP Co-financing organisation (CFO) ESF delivery role, within the framework of the Operational Programme.
DWP ESF funding for the period 2011-13 is focused on the following strands of activity:
- Support for families with multiple problems, such as inter-generational worklessness.
- Support for additional Work Programme provision for Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Income Support (IS) recipients who would otherwise be ineligible for the Work Programme and potentially additional employment support programmes.
- Day One Support For Young People aged between 18-24 years old who need additional support to make the transition from benefits into sustained employment.
Support for Families with Multiple Problems
Families are a priority for the Coalition Government. Eligible participants will be those people in families with multiple problems and complex needs where:
- at least one member of the family receives a DWP working age benefit; and
- either no one in the family is working, or there is a history of worklessness across generations.
It has been estimated that there are 120,0001 Troubled Families in England. ESF Support for Families with Multiple Problems provision is voluntary and will align with local authority delivery of wider help to move Troubled Families closer to employment. It will provide a continuum of support which complements and adds value to the broader programme of DWP provision including the Work Programme.
Support for Families with Multiple Problems provision will aim to tackle entrenched worklessness by progressing those families closer to employment. This will involve working closely with local authorities. As local authorities already work with families with multiple problems they will be the primary route for identification of the people in families who can benefit from this provision.
A provider secondary referral route has been introduced to increase referrals to the provision and will operate up to September 2013. Providers are able to identify, attach and confirm eligibility for people in families with multiple problems who wish to join the provision, without the requirement to clear eligibility for people in families with multiple problems who whish to join the provision through Local Authorities. Providers may choose to operate the secondary referral route but priority must still be given to the Local Authority referrals.
The focus of ESF Support for Families with Multiple Problems provision is to provide a whole family approach, making support available to individual family members across the generations.
DWP procures all contracts via a Framework Agreement and organisations successful in the DWP Provision of Employment Related Support Services competition were eligible to tender for this provision. There is one Prime Provider for each of the 12 Contract Package Areas (CPA). Upper Tier Local Authorities are central partners and the primary source of identification of participants for this ESF funded provision.
Providers demonstrated through their bids how, working with local partners, they would be most effective in helping families with multiple problems and were encouraged to deliver in the most efficient and innovative way possible within the confines of the requirements.
The minimum services delivery requirements must include:
- engagement with potential individuals/families and adopting and maximising use of key workers where appropriate;
- obtaining personal details from the individual and gaining consent for this information to be passed on to Jobcentre Plus or Local Authorities, where appropriate;
- ensuring family eligibility through the qualifying family member;
- start working with the individual within five days of receipt and acceptance of PRaP (Provider Referral and Payment System) referral;
- conducting an in-depth assessment with the individual and producing an agreed individual Action Plan within 20 days of the individual starting provision;
- coordinating activities and appointments with the individual including links to other support and where appropriate provide a named key worker, in line with the Action Plan; and
- on drawing up and agreeing the initial Action Plan, signed by the individual, claiming the attachment fee by entering the attachment date in PRaP; and
- providing post-employment support to maximise the number of individuals moving into and sustaining employment.
The funding model:
Payment is based on a payment by results model that includes payments for achieving sustained jobs, and for the completion by individual participants of three progress measure activities over a period of at least 26 weeks from initial attachment. (Progress measures differ in detail from contract to contract but are broadly consistent across the provision).
Progress measure payments are made after 26 weeks if the provider has worked with the individual to complete three progress measures. Currently, providers are able to claim 25 per cent of the progress measure payment from 13 weeks, provided there is an active individual action plan in place to address planned progress measures.
The problems faced by individuals/families vary between localities and in order to be effective, progress measures should reflect these local and family needs. Providers are therefore expected to liaise with Local Authorities and strategic and local partners, and put together a number of progress measures they think would be suitable for individuals within the CPA. Progress measures will demonstrate that providers are aware of the specific problems, issues and barriers faced by families in their area and should be tangible, specific and reliably evidenced by the Providers.
The Work Programme
The Work Programme aims to contribute to solving the problems of rising long term economic inactivity seen over the last decade and the increase in unemployment resulting from the recession. This will empower individuals and reduce the current burden of welfare on the public finances.
Supporting people to find and retain employment is a key part of the Government’s strategy for economic growth and the reduction of poverty. The Work Programme simplified the range of provision previously on offer.
Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Income Support (IS) claimants participate on a voluntary basis, and their places on the Work Programme are funded through the ESF. This supports the Government’s policy intent, as set out in the coalition agreement, that there should be a welfare to work programme to help all unemployed people back into work.
How ESF fits with the Work Programme
If an individual is already on the Work Programme they will not be eligible for ESF Support for Families with Multiple Problems provision. However this does not affect the eligibility of other family members who will be able to receive support.
If an individual is participating in ESF Support for Families with Multiple Problems provision reaches their mandatory entry point for Work Programme referral, they may be able to participate in ESF and Work Programme provision simultaneously. For the individual to continue to receive ESF provision it must be demonstrated and recorded on their Action Plan how the support provided is additional to Work Programme support.
If an individual volunteers for the Work Programme on a voluntary basis, while they are in receipt of ESF family support, they must leave ESF provision.
Any activity to which an individual is mandated by Jobcentre Plus or a Work Programme provider will take precedence over a coinciding ESF activity.
Day One Support For Young People
Day One Support for Young People supports young people who have never worked, or have very little work history. This is a key barrier that is preventing young people from moving into work, especially in a labour market where there are considerable numbers of jobseekers with more experience. Day One Support for Young people is a pilot for 18-24 years old in London only, covering Jobcentre Plus North and South districts from November 2012 to June 2013.
Eligible young people will be required to undertake a work placement for 13 weeks which has to be of benefit to the community with a private or community-sector organisation alongside provider led employment support (including jobsearch support), from the start of their JSA claim. This will equip jobseekers with a valuable period of work experience, enabling them to develop the disciplines and skills associated with sustained employment, capitalise on experience gained and maintain an employment focus through additional provider-led jobsearch or other support.
Participation in the programme is mandatory. The pilot will test and develop a model for a provision which has the potential to benefit disadvantaged young people with no previous work opportunities and ESF funds can be used to support this innovative programme.
1 DfE estimate based on Cabinet Office (2007) "Families at Risk Background on families with multiple disadvantages".