DWP New Schemes

DWP

The DWP have announced some new schemes

Fit For Work Goes Live

Fit for Work is designed to support people in work and help with sickness absence and provide an occupational health assessment and health and work advice to employees, employers and GPs.

The telephone advice service of Fit for Work was launched at the end of last year - visit www.fitforwork.org to find out what’s available and how to get in touch. This month, a referral service was launched in the Sheffield area, GPs can now refer eligible patients to an occupational health assessment, when they reach or are expected to reach four weeks of sickness absence. The service will be expanded across the county from spring 2015, drawing on lessons from the experiences and learning of the current Sheffield pilot.

Fit for Work is intended to complement, not replace, existing occupational health provision. It should be particularly beneficial to smaller businesses that have not previously had access to occupational health advice. As Fit for Work rolls out, employers will also start to see Return to Work Plans which can act as fit notes. Sign up to receive updates and get prepared by reading the guidance.

New Work Pilot for 18-21 Year Olds

Two pilots aimed further enhancing employment prospects for people aged aged 18-21 on Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) are now fully up and running have both started in November.

Training Pilot

Up to 15,000 new JSA claimants aged 18-21 who do not have level 2 English or maths qualifications are now required to undertake training to improve their skills. Training is being delivered in partnership with further education providers and will run for a maximum period of six months. Individuals receive up to for 16 hours per week, primarily on-line. Face to face support from tutors will be available for some learners, and those who are part of the scheme will continue to receive JSA with the expectancy they continue with their job search.

The Training Pilot will run in three Jobcentre districts,

 Kent, Mercia and Devon

 Cornwall and Somerset

 Black Country from March 2015

Work Related Activity Pilot

A Work Related Activity Pilot running in Kent only, targets 18-21 year olds who have been claiming JSA for six months or more. Those taking part work in a related activity that is most appropriate to them. The activity will focus on improving skills or it could potentially take the shape of a more work focused activity such as a traineeship, sector-based work academy, or work experience. There will be a mixture of both voluntary and mandatory interventions which in the long run will develop individuals’ skills and further improve their prospect of finding suitable employment.

Personalisation Pathfinder

As part of the Disability Confident campaign, DWP is launching the Personalisation Pathfinders to trial. The Pathfinders will run in three districts: Greater Wessex;

Surrey & Sussex and South West Wales and will provide additional support to people with a disability or health condition. Both ESA and JSA claimants will be included in the trial which will run for two years.

Pathfinder districts will develop much closer links with local strategic delivery partners including local authorities, Health, Education and Mental Health Services.

The pathfinder will provide funding to Disabled People’s User Led Organisations (DPULOs) and Voluntary Sector Organisations in the pilot districts to offer peer support and role models.

There will be increased engagement with specialist local service providers, better mapping of local provision and easier access to bespoke support where needed. There will also be stronger links with local employers to support them employing and retaining more sick and disabled people.