Janet Sinclair Devon Partnership Manager. An overview of Jobcentre Plus

2 Jobcentre Plus Role of Jobcentre Plus Part of the Department for Work and Pensions. Help employers to advertise and fill job vacancies Support unemployed people back into work Pay out-of -work benefits

3 Jobcentre Plus How we deliver Through a network of about 750 Jobcentre Plus offices supported by a website We encourage self service methods We use phone and on- line methods We see those who need most help face to face

4 Jobcentre Plus Our workless customers Customers who are unemployed and looking for immediate work. Customers who are not working due to a health related condition Customers who have a caring responsibility. Jobseekers Allowance – JSA Employment and Support Allowance – ESA Income Support - IS

5 Jobcentre Plus Statistical information In Exeter people claim JSA (September 2012) –Of which 585 are year olds –41.5% have been unemployed for over 6 months –25.9% have been unemployed for over a year 2.4,590 claim ESA/IB, 5.5% of working age population claim IS as Lone Parents, 1.0% of working age population

6 Jobcentre Plus Comparative data, as a % of working age population Jobseekers Allowance Exeter 2.4%; Southwest 2.6%; GB 3.8% Employment and Support Allowance & IB Exeter 5.5%; Southwest 5.8%; GB 6.5% Income Support Lone Parents Exeter 1.0%; Southwest 1.1%; GB 1.5%

7 Jobcentre Plus Cuts, Challenges, Changes De-regulation; De-centralisation; Local delivery through partnerships. Welfare Reform – across all areas of benefit ; demanding time line; simplifying a very complex system; ensuring it always pays to work; digital by default There is still much that we do not yet - but we know we will have to deliver more for less, payments are outcome-based, our help will be more targeted and we will be looking for more local solutions. Welfare Reform Period of transition

8 Jobcentre Plus What we deliver A wide range of provision to help our workless customers get work. In house through our advisory services Through our contracted providers Sign- posting customers to provision in the community.

9 Jobcentre Plus How our advisers work with unemployed people, Individual and flexible approach All support is focussed on helping the person move into work. Training is linked to the skills required by the individual to gain employment in the local area. All unemployed people of working age have a responsibility to gain work as soon as possible. Devon and Cornwall Jobcentre District have a flexible fund to help people move into work.

10 Jobcentre Plus Get Britain Working 1.Work Clubs 2.Work Together 3.Work Experience 4.Work for Yourself – New Enterprise Allowance + Enterprise clubs 5.Service Academies 6.Work Programme

11 Jobcentre Plus Training opportunities [funded by Skills Funding Agency] We are developing local partnerships to influence what training is needed and available. There is increased emphasis that funded training for unemployed people is linked to known job opportunities- short and job-focussed SFA allocate 3 budgets apprenticeship budget on behalf of the Department of Education 2.Adult Skills Budget 3.Skills Funding Agency, European Social Fund Budge

12 Jobcentre Plus Any Questions?