Realising potential: A vision for personalised conditionality and support

On 2 December 2008 Professor Paul Gregg delivered his independent report on conditionality and support ‘Realising potential: A vision for personalised conditionality and support’ to the Department for Work and Pensions.

This report sets out Professor Gregg’s vision for a single personalised conditionality and support regime, where virtually everyone claiming benefits and not in work should be looking for or engaging in activity to help them move towards employment.

It sets out a number of recommendations that Professor Gregg believes the Government should adopt. This includes a single personalised conditionality and support regime, consisting of three broad groups:

A ‘Work-Ready' group for those who are immediately job-ready. The requirements for this group would largely be based on the current JSA regime.
A ‘Progression to Work' group aimed at those where an immediate return to work is not appropriate but is a genuine possibility with time encouragement and support. The requirements for this group will:
- Reflect the claimant’s co-ownership of the return to work process;
- Be tailored to their capability and built around their circumstances;
- Be based on activity that supports the clients own path to work; and
- Link up with effective support.
A 'No Conditionality' group, which would not be required to undertake work-related activity or take steps back to work.

It also considers the role of sanctions, how the Department could build the evidence base on adviser flexibility, and what employment support will be necessary to underpin the vision outlined in the report.