Work Choice (formerly Specialist Disability Employment Programme)

Questions and Answers

Questions and answers - published 4 October 2010 (38KB)

Organisations awarded contracts to deliver the Work Choice programme

The list below details those organisations who have been awarded contracts to deliver the Work Choice programme.

The Work Choice Programme Notice 28 July 2010

You will recall that the Minister for Employment issued a Written Ministerial Statement on 10 June 2010. This announced the Government's review of how best to continue its commitment to support severely disabled people in finding and retaining employment.

Ministers have now confirmed their intention to introduce the Work Choice Programme from 25 October 2010.

Activities have recommenced with preferred suppliers and we expect to move to contract award shortly, which will enable us to adhere to the original implementation timetable.

Update of the announcement of the designated Preferred Bidders for the Work Choice programme added 27 July 2010

Please note that the Preferred Bidder for Contract Package Area 1 is now Momentum Scotland Ltd.

 

Notice to announce the designated Preferred Bidders for the Work Choice programme

The following table lists the designated Preferred Bidders for the Work Choice programme in each of the 28 Contract Package Areas.

Notice to Providers - latest information 18 February

We regret that there will be a short delay in notifying the outcome of the Work Choice competition to organisations that have been selected as Preferred Bidders.

We have received a large number of bids for the Government’s innovative Work Choice programme, which will come on stream in October this year. We have had lots of interest and this is positive, but it means that the evaluation is taking a little longer than expected. However, we are still firmly on track to deliver Work Choice as planned.

We do not expect the delay to impact the transition period or the planned 'go live' date.

Latest Information

The letters below set out in high level some of the activities that DWP plan to carry out with WORKSTEP, and Work Preparation providers and potential prime contractors bidding for Work Choice during the implementation period prior to the introduction of the new programme. It includes a request for providers to nominate HR representatives from their organisations to attend events being held on 21 January 2010 (for current providers) and 22 January 2010 (for potential prime contractors). At these events we will outline how we can work together to manage the implementation of Work Choice, and in particular the HR & Workforce planning issues arising.

• Work Choice Implementation: People & Workforce Handling (Bidder) (401KB) - Added 12 January 2010
• Work Choice Implementation: People & Workforce Handling (Provider) (401KB) - Added 12 January 2010
• Work Choice Implementation: People & Workforce Handling (Providers) (45KB)
• Work Choice Implementation: People & Workforce Handling (Bidders) (46KB)

Previous Work Choice information.

Work Choice Communication Pack

From 25 October 2010 Work Choice will replace the existing WORKSTEP and Work Preparation programmes and the Job Introduction Scheme. Introduction

The following documents have been developed for WORKSTEP providers to use following contracts being awarded and signed. They have been designed to help you when you are talking to existing WORKSTEP customers/employees and 'host' employers about the introduction of Work Choice. They have been produced to assist you during the transition period to ensure consistent messages about the changes are cascaded to 'host' WORKSTEP employers and customers/employees. The use of these documents is not mandatory; however, the discussion with WORKSTEP customers/employees and 'host' employers is a required transition activity.

It is important to note that the documents have been developed on the assumption that employers and employees are aware of the current WORKSTEP programme.

Some current WORKSTEP employees have transferred from previous employment programmes and due to the time that has elapsed (several years in some instances) it is essential to ensure before speaking to them about Work Choice, that they are made aware they are on a government programme. It is also important that the 'host' employer is aware of the existing WORKSTEP programme.

In addition to these documents, you should also familiarise yourself with the required transitional activities in the WORKSTEP Provider Transition Guidance published 22 March 2010 on the WORKSTEP Extranet and the Work Choice Provider Transition Guidance published 9 August 2010 on the Provider Guidance pages.

Work Choice Communication Set