Plan for Jobs and employment support

Work and Pensions Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 11 Jul 2022 Closed: 31 Oct 2023 Parliament page
The Committee looked at the effectiveness of Government support to get people into employment, including disadvantaged groups such as those in low-paid jobs and young people. The Committee looked to find out: What is driving increases in economic inactivity - for example amongst people with health conditions and older people? … Read more
25 Recommendations
13 Conclusions
1 Report
8 Oral sessions
3 Letters
8 Events
Activity timeline 21 events
23 Oct
2023
Report published
18 Oct
2023
Correspondence
19 Jul
2023
Report published
7 Jun
2023
Correspondence
3 May
2023
Oral evidence
3 May
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
19 Apr
2023
Oral evidence
19 Apr
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
29 Mar
2023
Correspondence
15 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
15 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
8 Feb
2023
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 8 sessions
3 May 2023
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Work and Pensions Committee
Guy Opperman MP · Department for Work and Pensions Katie Farrington · Department for Work and Pensions Sophie Dean · Department for Work and Pensions Tom Pursglove MP · Home Office
19 Apr 2023
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Work and Pensions Committee
Alex Till · National Enterprise Network David Hale · Federation of Small Businesses Jonny Briggs · Aviva Matt Dooley · Momentic Limited
15 Mar 2023
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Work and Pensions Committee
Dr Katy Jones · Manchester Metropolitan University Professor Dan Finn · University of Portsmouth
8 Feb 2023
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Work and Pensions Committee
Elizabeth Taylor · The Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) Fiona Monahan · Ingeus Graham Parry · Groundwork Liz Sewell · Belina Grow Rhodri Thomas · Reed in Partnership Richard Clifton · Shaw Trust Rosie Ginday · Miss Macaroon
25 Jan 2023
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Work and Pensions Committee
Councillor Kieron Williams · Central London Forward Councillor Toby Savage · Local Government Association Dr Shriti Pattani · Society of Occupational Medicine Graham Whitham · Greater Manchester Poverty Action Luke Price · The Centre for Ageing Better Peter Murphy · Wise Age Professor Kevin Bampton · British Occupational Hygiene Society
16 Nov 2022
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Work and Pensions Committee
Barry Fletcher · Career Connect Billy Harding · Centrepoint Dr Jenny Ceolta-Smith · Long Covid Support and Long Covid Work James Taylor · Scope Jane Hunt · Association of Disabled Professionals Professor Kim Hoque · Disability@Work Richard Rigby · The Prince’s Trust
26 Oct 2022
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Work and Pensions Committee
Ben Harrison · The Work Foundation Dr Eleanor Carter · Government Outcomes Lab, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford Jonathan Cribb · Institute for Fiscal Studies Louise Murphy · Resolution Foundation Stephen Evans · Learning and Work Institute Tony Wilson · Institute for Employment Studies
5 Jan 2022
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Work and Pensions Committee
Hannah Slaughter · Resolution Foundation Richard Hughes · Office for Budget Responsibility Sam Avanzo Windett · Learning and Work Institute Tony Wilson · Institute for Employment Studies
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and employment support HC 600 19 Jul 2023 38 Overdue
Recommendations & Conclusions
11 results
Clear
1 Recommendation Accepted
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and…
Integrate mental health support and job readiness training into future DWP programmes for young people
The pandemic has led to a steep rise in mental health problems among young people. Whilst maintaining steady employment often helps people to sustain good mental health, problems with mental health are a principal barrier to employment for many 16-to-24-year-olds. … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights close collaboration with DHSC and NHS and lists several existing and planned interventions, such as Employment Advisers in NHS Talking Therapies and the Universal Support programme, that integrate mental health support for young people. It also notes that DWP work coaches receive training to assist claimants with mental health conditions.
Department for Work and Pensions
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17 Conclusion Accepted
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and…
Develop a mentoring initiative for older workers to train and support new industry workers.
Creating opportunities for older workers to remain active in the labour market for longer is important for reducing economic inactivity. The Government’s Returnerships initiative looks to support older workers to change career but does not attempt to reduce the loss … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that its specialist 50 Plus Champions already facilitate employer-led mentoring workshops, which can be sector-specific, and the Taking Teaching Further program supports over 50s in sharing their industry expertise as FE teachers.
Department for Work and Pensions
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18 Recommendation Accepted
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and…
Ensure maximum take-up and monitor accessibility of the new Mid-life MOT website.
Some over 50s who stopped working after the pandemic may not have the financial security they need to support themselves for the rest of their lives. We welcome the new Midlife MOT website launched by DWP on 5 July 2023 … Read more
Government Response
The government confirms it is already delivering Midlife MOTs in Jobcentres and piloting them through private sector suppliers, alongside an enhanced digital offer, directly addressing the committee's call for in-person services. It also highlights ongoing efforts to engage employers and promote age-inclusive workforce policies.
Department for Work and Pensions
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20 Conclusion Accepted
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and…
Broaden eligibility criteria for underspent employment schemes to include economically inactive individuals
The Restart scheme has seen an underspend against its budget since it was launched in 2021. Despite this, strict eligibility criteria mean that many people who would benefit from the support of the programme are not able to access help. … Read more
Government Response
The government explained the past underspend was due to quicker economic recovery and they already expanded eligibility from 12-18 months to 9 months in Intensive Work Search. They did not commit to further expansion for the economically inactive or new publicity.
Department for Work and Pensions
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22 Conclusion Accepted
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and…
Regular publication of Restart statistics enhances transparency and DWP accountability
We welcome that the Department has already responded positively to our request to publish Restart statistics regularly. The previous lack of transparency around how the programme was performing and its employment outcomes for participants had prevented valuable external assessment of … Read more
Government Response
The government states it already produces and publishes statistics for its employment programmes and will continue to develop future publications for transparency.
Department for Work and Pensions
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24 Conclusion Accepted
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and…
Roll out Work Adjustment Passport to all Access to Work recipients for smoother transitions
DWP should roll out the Work Adjustment Passport for everyone who receives support from Access to Work to support people transitioning into work or between jobs. This would make it easier to access support and obtain adjustments quickly.
Government Response
DWP has already rolled out two tailored Adjustments Passports nationally for disabled jobseekers and armed forces service leavers, with a third for university students due in Autumn 2023. Work is underway to develop a generic passport.
Department for Work and Pensions
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25 Recommendation Accepted
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and…
Update Access to Work document submission process to allow all documentation online by 2023
The Access to Work system is outdated and often unable to accept online document submission or e-signatures. A system that requires applications and claims must be 84 Plan for Jobs and employment support sent in by hand acts as a … Read more
Government Response
The government confirms that a new online process for Access to Work grant claims was introduced in June 2023, enabling customers to submit new claims, upload evidence, and have claims digitally countersigned, fully addressing the recommendation before the specified deadline.
Department for Work and Pensions
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26 Recommendation Accepted
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and…
Review Disability Employment Adviser numbers and enhance specialist support for disabled Jobcentre users
In line with our recommendation in our Disability employment gap Report, we recommend that DWP should review the number of DEAs and the support that Jobcentre Plus staff receive on supporting disabled people. DWP need to ensure that there is … Read more
Government Response
The government states that all work coaches and DEAs already undergo comprehensive and ongoing learning, which is regularly reviewed. The DEA role was also redesigned in 2019 to provide specialist health-related coaching and support.
Department for Work and Pensions
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29 Recommendation Accepted
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and…
Re-focus DWP programmes on sustainable employment and publish long-term outcome metrics
The Way to Work campaign focused on moving people into work as quickly as possible, without considering whether this work was suitable or sustainable in the long-term. This approach may reduce unemployment in the short-term, but the long-term positive impacts … Read more
Government Response
The government asserts that DWP already provides comprehensive support for individuals to achieve sustained and quality employment, citing the In-Work Progression offer and Restart scheme's focus on sustained outcomes. It also states that its employment support programmes undergo comprehensive evaluation, measuring and reporting on long-term employment and benefit outcomes externally.
Department for Work and Pensions
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31 Recommendation Accepted
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and…
Provide continued employment support to vulnerable claimants transitioning into work for 3-6 months.
DWP’s employment support services do not currently offer much support beyond the point of securing employment. People who have multiple or complex barriers to employment or who have been unemployed for a long time are often seen as Plan for … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, stating its Universal Support program will provide personalised in-work support for up to 12 months for at-risk claimants, exceeding the recommended 3-6 months. It also highlights an increase in the Administrative Earnings Threshold and a new voluntary in-work progression offer for low earners.
Department for Work and Pensions
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32 Recommendation Accepted
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and…
Introduce pilot of Jobs Plus programme with community development approach in high unemployment areas.
Support that is tailored to the needs of the individual produces better long-term results that not only gets people into work but helps them overcome the barriers to employment that were preventing them from gaining and sustaining employment. If these … Read more
Government Response
The government is supportive of the Jobs Plus concept and will be implementing a pilot scheme based on the Jobs Plus model.
Department for Work and Pensions
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Government Response AI assessment · 38 of 25 classified
Accepted 11
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 8
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 8
Total 25 recs + 13 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
18 Oct 2023 Correspondence with the Economic Secretary to the Treasury relating to income protection insurance
Parliament page
7 Jun 2023 Correspondence with the Minister for Employment relating to Plan for Jobs and employment support
Parliament page
29 Mar 2023 Correspondence with the Minister for Employment and the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work relating to statistics for DWP employment support schemes
Parliament page