Get Britain Working: Reforming Jobcentres

Work and Pensions Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 23 Jan 2025 Closed: 1 Jan 2026 Parliament page
The Work and Pension Committee is conducting an inquiry into Jobcentres, the first in a series of inquiries in response to the Government’s Get Britain Working White Paper . The Government wants to increase employment and to help achieve this, it plans to reform Jobcentres, which it says are too … Read more
24 Recommendations
17 Conclusions
2 Reports
4 Oral sessions
4 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 16 events
14 Nov
2025
Report published
13 Nov
2025
Report published
12 Nov
2025
Correspondence
11 Sep
2025
Report published
8 Sep
2025
Report published
3 Sep
2025
Correspondence
3 Sep
2025
Correspondence
3 Sep
2025
Correspondence
11 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
11 Jun
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
23 Apr
2025
Oral evidence
23 Apr
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Macmillan Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
11 Jun 2025
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Work and Pensions Committee
Alison McGovern MP · Department for Work and Pensions David Barrow · Department for Work and Pensions Ed Lidington · Ministry of Justice
23 Apr 2025
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Work and Pensions Committee
Abdi Mohamed · Scope Andrew McGregor · UNISON Angela Grant · PCS Balbir Kaur Chatrik · Centrepoint Liz Sewell · Belina Grow Martin Cavanagh · PCS Sam Reid · Migrant Help
1 Apr 2025
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Reforming Jobcentres; Pensioner Poverty
Idowu Khadijat Morafa · Across Ummah CIC Jo Rowlands · Leeds City Council Jo Volpe · Leeds Older People’s Forum Lauren McKechnie · Age UK Bolton Paul McGarry · Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Ageing Hub Rt Hon Andy Burnham · Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Sue Forster · Citizens Advice Liverpool Trish Martin · Southway Housing
12 Mar 2025
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Work and Pensions Committee
Becci Newton · Institute for Employment Studies Elizabeth Taylor · Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) Jane Gratton · British Chambers of Commerce Professor Peter Robertson · Edinburgh Napier University Ramesh Moher · New Challenge Saira Hussain · Federation of Small Businesses
Recommendations & Conclusions
16 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report – Get Britain Working: …
Claimant commitments remain too generic and counter-productive, requiring more substantial reform from DWP.
Claimant commitments should be a cornerstone of the relationship between claimants and work coaches. But too often, commitments set work search requirements that are too generic and sometimes counter-productive (such as completing a set number of applications or spending 35-hours … Read more
Government Response
The government has completed an internal review of the Claimant Commitment and is currently testing a new policy model through the Jobs and Careers Service ‘Pathfinder’ to shift focus from compliance to individual employment support. They will review the policy further based on initial Pathfinder findings, but do not agree a public consultation is necessary at this stage as testing is already underway.
Department for Work and Pensions
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3 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report – Get Britain Working: …
Introduce an employment support guarantee detailing personalised support from new jobs service.
To demonstrate the Government’s commitment to supporting rather than coercing people into employment, it should introduce an employment support guarantee that sets out the personalised support and advice people can expect to receive from the new jobs and careers service. … Read more
Government Response
The government is exploring alternative approaches to how claimants demonstrate conditionality within the Pathfinder, including providing evidence through Universal Credit accounts for digitally capable individuals. It partially accepts the recommendation to introduce an employment support guarantee, stating that it will gather feedback, review policy, and set out next steps in a report on delivering the Jobs and Careers Service in spring 2026.
Department for Work and Pensions
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4 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report – Get Britain Working: …
Jobcentre shift from compliance to personalised support lacks clear implementation plan.
We were encouraged to hear that the Government wants to shift the focus of Jobcentre appointments away from monitoring benefit compliance and towards personalised employment support. This shift is urgently needed. The Department now needs to expand on how it … Read more
Government Response
The government states that work coaches already tailor commitments to personal circumstances and are constantly reviewing training. While they are testing broader commitments within the Pathfinder program, they have no current plans for further research into new approaches and reaffirm their belief in conditionality and sanctions.
Department for Work and Pensions
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9 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report – Get Britain Working: …
Work coaches are ineffectively deployed with insufficient time for personalised claimant support.
Work coaches are an incredible resource but they are currently being ineffectively deployed. Work coaches often do not have enough time with claimants to have an impact, with many appointments no more than 10 minutes long: not nearly enough to … Read more
Government Response
The government has developed a draft policy framework to shift focus from compliance checking to personalised employment support, is testing a two-stage approach for Claimant Commitment meetings, and is developing a Work Coach Academy to enhance work coach skills and capabilities.
Department for Work and Pensions
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10 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report – Get Britain Working: …
Undertake a detailed review of the work coach model, evaluating impact and empowering coaches.
Over the next year, DWP should undertake a detailed review of its work coach model. It should evaluate the difference work coach support makes to employment outcomes for different groups, identifying those who would most benefit from more support and … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, stating its Evidence and Evaluation Strategy 2025 already covers work coach support impacts. They commit to publishing a review of available evidence on work coach and third-party employment support by the end of 2026, with further evaluations to follow.
Department for Work and Pensions
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23 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report – Get Britain Working: …
Expand Jobcentre employer offer with DBT to promote better employment practices and diversity.
Jobcentres offer a golden opportunity for the Government to influence employers and to create more ‘good jobs’. DWP should work with the Department for Business and Trade to expand Jobcentre’s offer to employers. The two Departments should work together to … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, stating DWP is actively working with the Department for Business and Trade to embed employment support within sector plans and will explore further coordination. They are committed to formalising these partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding to strengthen alignment across government.
Department for Work and Pensions
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26 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report – Get Britain Working: …
Introduce Jobcentre outreach work as a core service, taking support into local communities.
DWP needs to break Jobcentres out of their four walls. It should make outreach work, with staff taking Jobcentre services into the community and to locations that people trust, a core part of the new service. DWP should include larger-scale … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, developing a Flexible Delivery Network model to bring DWP support into local communities. They are testing mobile delivery via vans, designing a toolkit for community-based delivery, and using a mapping tool to identify further outreach opportunities.
Department for Work and Pensions
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27 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report – Get Britain Working: …
Jobcentre environments often lack accessibility and welcome, undermining efforts to support claimants.
Jobcentres are not places that people want to go to. They are often run-down and lack basic facilities, including accessibility features. An intimidating security presence can create additional barriers for some. It will be important that when people walk through … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the observation, committing to transform Jobcentre spaces through capital investment and the Workplace Transformation Programme. They are creating Innovation Hubs to test new designs and improve customer experience, aiming to make Jobcentres more welcoming.
Department for Work and Pensions
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28 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report – Get Britain Working: …
Detail plans for revitalising the Jobcentre estate, ensuring adaptability and co-location of services.
In its response to this report, DWP should set out how it will use its increased capital funds to revitalise the Jobcentre estate. DWP needs to make more of its Jobcentre spaces and it should make sure that the physical … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts, detailing the Workplace Transformation Programme, capital investment, and Innovation Hubs to revitalise and adapt Jobcentre spaces. They are also implementing a comprehensive asset management strategy to prevent future dilapidation.
Department for Work and Pensions
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29 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report – Get Britain Working: …
Develop a comprehensive plan to ensure every Jobcentre meets full accessibility requirements immediately.
It is not acceptable that some Jobcentres remain inaccessible to some of the people who most need their support. In its response, DWP should set out its plan for ensuring that every Jobcentre meets full accessibility requirements. (Recommendation, Paragraph 132) Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, stating current Jobcentres are compliant and outlining a comprehensive, continually evolving accessibility strategy. This includes embedding accessibility into new service design, exploring assistive technology, implementing measurable actions to resolve issues, and transparent monitoring and reporting.
Department for Work and Pensions
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1 Conclusion Accepted
5th Report - Get Britain Working: …
Adult careers guidance in England is fragmented, confusing, and lacks a coherent strategy.
Careers advice helps people achieve their potential, improving employment outcomes, as well as unlocking huge productivity gains with significant economic benefits. However, careers advice in England is a patchwork of services that lacks cohesion and is confusing and fragmented. Overall … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's assessment and will bring adult careers advice provision, currently delivered by the National Careers Service, in-house to the DWP from 30 September 2026 to create a single integrated employment and careers support service.
Department for Work and Pensions
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4 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - Get Britain Working: …
Review and develop a strategic funding model for careers advice and providers
DWP should review the funding and funding model for careers advice. It should develop a more strategic model that funds additional sessions for those for whom it will deliver the greatest impact and value for money, and in areas with … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to developing robust performance measures for the new Jobs and Careers Service, building on the "Get Britain Working" outcomes (April 2025) to create specific outcome measures for careers advice. Its evaluation strategy is currently under development and will be shared with the Committee.
Department for Work and Pensions
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6 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - Get Britain Working: …
Protect the distinct role of careers advisors and develop their professional training pathway
As part of the new service, DWP should protect the distinct role and skills of careers advisors. It will also need to define the future relationship between careers advisers and work coaches, which will be critical to the success of … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to publishing a detailed transition plan within the next six months, which will outline how the National Careers Service and Jobcentre Plus will be brought together to deliver a unified service and provide clarity to employees and contractors.
Department for Work and Pensions
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8 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - Get Britain Working: …
Provide urgent clarity on integration of NCS, future contracts, and devolved operations
DWP has yet to set out how it will bring together Jobcentres and the NCS, putting service delivery at risk. NCS providers are operating under uncertainty, with no clarity about the future of contracts that are currently managed by DfE. … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, acknowledging the need for clarity. It commits to publishing a detailed transition plan within the next six months, outlining how the National Careers Service and Jobcentre Plus will be integrated into a unified Jobs and Careers Service.
Department for Work and Pensions
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9 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - Get Britain Working: …
Provide clarity on accountability, devolved arrangements, and eligibility for new careers service
In its response to this inquiry, the Government should provide clarity on: • the accountability arrangements for its new jobs and careers service and for adult careers services generally, including any joint arrangements between DfE and DWP; • the planned … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, clarifying that accountability for adult careers transferred to DWP. They will work closely with devolved governments for Scotland and Wales, and state that anyone seeking work, increased earnings, or a career change will be able to access support, with tailored options available.
Department for Work and Pensions
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10 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - Get Britain Working: …
Publish a transition plan for NCS and consult unions on integration and contracts
The Government must also provide more certainty to staff and contractors. In the next 6 months, DWP should publish a transition plan for the NCS, setting out how it will be integrated into a new jobs and careers service and … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to provide clarity to staff and contractors. It will publish a detailed transition plan for the National Careers Service within the next six months, outlining its integration into the new jobs and careers service and how contracts will be managed, while also committing to working with unions.
Department for Work and Pensions
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Government Response AI assessment · 41 of 24 classified
Accepted 16
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 13
Rejected 2
Total 24 recs + 17 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
12 Nov 2025 Correspondence from the Secretary of State, relating to the launch of a Report into Young People and Work
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3 Sep 2025 To committee Further letter from the Minister for Employment, responding to the Committee's letter following up on the evidence session the Minister attended on 11 June 2025, dated 7 August 2025
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3 Sep 2025 To committee Letter from the Minister for Employment, responding to the Committee's letter following up on the evidence session the Minister attended on 11 June 2025, dated 17 July 2025
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3 Sep 2025 From committee Letter to the Minister for Employment, following up on the evidence session the Minister attended on 11 June 2025 on Get Britain Working: Reforming Jobcentres, dated 20 June 2025
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