1. Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service Deborah Clifford Redundancy Support Team Manager deborah.clifford@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk Tel: 01522 343140

2. The Rapid Response Service  Jobcentre Plus has always had a Rapid Response Service that in the past focussed on significant or large scale redundancies. However due to the scale & pace of redundancies brought about by the recent economic situation all employers announcing 20 or more redundancies are offered Rapid Response Service (RRS) support.  In addition, we also now have local discretion to offer support where employers are making fewer than 20 redundancies and this includes companies indirectly affected by a redundancy situation.

3. Dealing with Redundancies  Redundancies are challenging for everyone involved and the aim of the Rapid Response Service (RRS) is to offer support to employers and their employees at the earliest opportunity

4. The Offer  The level of support offered to an employer and their employees is based on:  Whether they are under threat, under notice or have been made redundant  The number of people being made redundant  The timing of the redundancies  The impact on the local labour market

5. The Process  Jobcentre Plus must attempt to make contact with the employer within 48 Hours of notification to District  Jobcentre Plus must only contact the person named on the HR 1  When RRS is accepted Jobcentre Plus will agree how best to design the support package with the employer

6. Working With Partners  Working with partners is a key element in the delivery of the Rapid Response Service. This involves pulling together and organising the support available from a range of public sector partners such as local authorities, skills bodies, providers as well as business support organisations and any help being made from the employer involved

7. Working with Jobcentre Plus  Searching for jobs  Other places to look for work  Training opportunities, Jobsearch and Careers Advice  How to make a claim to benefit  What can I claim?  What happens when I make a claim to JSA?  Where can I go for advice?

8. Working With Next Steps  Jobcentre Plus works with Next Steps to fully assess the individual’s transferable skills and experience through Skill Transfer Analysis in relation to the labour market. Where skills gaps are identified the provider can recommend relevant Job Focussed Training that will help move the individual into new sustainable permanent employment

9. Jobcentre Plus Services  Jobcentre Plus takes an average of 14,070 new job vacancies every day and  Receives 1,024,950 daily searches for job vacancies through the Directgov website  Jobcentre Plus offers professional modern and free services and that is why employers choose to work with us