Working for Families - Inverclyde Policy and Practice

Economic Overview  Resident Population82,400  % Scotland  Working Age population50,  Males25,  Females24,   Scotland  Economically Active36,  Employed33,  Unemployed (including JSA)2,  Scotland  Economically inactive13,  Wanting a job4,  Not wanting a job9,

Economic Overview (cont.)  Qualifications: Working Age  % Scotland  NVQ  NVQ3+23,  NVQ2+31,  NVQ1+36,  Other3,  None10,  Average Earnings  Inverclyde Scotland  Full-time Workers  Earnings by Workplace  Full-time Workers

Our Community  Significant progress made following decline of traditional industry, but certain issues remain: Population decline; ageing population High levels of unemployment and economic inactivity Historically low levels of educational attainment Poor health Issues around drugs dependency and alcoholism Poverty and deprivation remain a fact of life for many - 33% of Inverclyde’s population live in neighbourhoods recorded as being among the most deprived in Scotland

Target Groups  8,615 Lone Parent Families with dependent children (24% of all households)  Over 40% of all JSA/Income Support/Tax Credit claimants live in just six electoral wards  Port Glasgow East; Gibshill/Blairmore; Greenock East Central; Ladyburn/Bridgend; Larkfield; Clune Brae/Devol

Target Groups 10% population unpaid carers; 10% permanently sick/disabled. Approximately 500 people entering treatment for drug misuse each year. 20% of discharges from psychiatric hospitals have diagnoses of alcohol dependence. These client groups harder to reach and furthest from labour market

Inverclyde WFF Model

Community Listening  Client centred with a range of referral options  It is also clear that significant personal support is offered to less confident clients. In these circumstances, considerable work is undertaken on a one-to-one basis before accompanying the client to another Working for Families project.  A vital first step towards addressing a number of barriers to employment in relation to skill levels, childcare, literacy and numeracy, transportation, and financial problems.  Clients have been successfully challenged as well as supported

Keyworkers – A Key Role  Quality of assessment  Identification of barriers  Identification of action plan  Continuity  Aftercare

Childcare Services  To what extent does childcare act as a barrier to employment?  What needs to be put in place in order to create a flexible and affordable childcare network?  What are the views of employers in relation to employees with childcare needs?

Support Services  What residual barriers to employment are preventing clients from accessing work?  Travel and Transport  Financial Exclusion and Benefits trap  Employment patterns and self employment  Basic Skills  Core Skills

Gaps in Services  Childcare – general  Childcare – geographical  Childcare – flexibility  Aftercare  Employer liaison  Client tracking

Initial WFF Clients  76.9% are Lone Parents  69.9% have more than one child; 43.6% have children under three years old  48.7% receive Income Support  Under-represented groups: Male Lone Parents; People with Drug/Alcohol problems  Disproportionate number of early residents from Port Glasgow East

Meeting Targets  Total Number Of Clients: 724  Clients Currently Active: 448 Client Categories:-Low Income: 270 -Additional Stress: 76 -One Parents:486 -No Category: 20 Outcomes: -Into Work (FT): 38 -PT (29-16hrs): 30 -Self Employment: 4 -PT (<16hrs): 52 -Education: 167

Client Experiences  Positive evaluation from feedback  Higher and further education  Rapid response Unit  Special Needs children and adults

A Way Forward  Eradicating Child Poverty –  An achievable target?  How can this be achieved?  How can this be delivered?