18
Not Addressed
The Department employs Kickstart district account managers to maintain relationships with employers.
Conclusion
The Department employs Kickstart district account managers to maintain relationships with employers. These account managers are expected to keep in touch with employers and to learn about young peoples’ experiences in their Kickstart jobs.74 The 64 Qq 55, 88–89; C&AG’s Report, paragraph 3.14. 65 C&AG’s Report, paragraph 3.14. 66 C&AG’s Report, paragraph 3.15. 67 Q57; C&AG’s Report, paragraph 3.12, ,3.13, 3.14. 68 Q57. 69 Q67. 70 Q67. 71 C&AG’s Report, paragraph 21. 72 Q77. 73 Q74. 74 Q80. 16 DWP Employment Support: Kickstart Scheme Department told us that district account managers focus particularly on employment support.75 The Department does not collate centrally the information from these discussions and acknowledged that the National Audit Office had raised a “good challenge about whether we properly collate information”.76 The Department keeps Kickstart participants’ online journals open while individuals are in a Kickstart job so that they can raise any concerns they have, although the National Audit Office reported that some journal messages were not dealt with promptly.77 The Department also offers voluntary appointments for participants to talk to their work coaches one and four months into a Kickstart job placement but, if the claimant does not respond after two days, work coaches are instructed to close the appointment.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's observation regarding the lack of central collation of information from account manager discussions but does not commit to addressing this specific issue. Instead, it states it is reviewing successful features of the Kickstart scheme to incorporate into future programmes.
Government Response
Not Addressed
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2022 1.2 The Department for Work and Pensions (the department) is reviewing successful features of the Kickstart Scheme to include in the wider service provided to claimants, including maintaining elements of the employer account management approach for use through the Way to Work Campaign. This will include details of the design elements, infrastructure, capability and functions which will be retained after the scheme and can be used as a reference source for future government programmes.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
Thirty-Ninth Report - DWP Employment Support: Kickstart Scheme
25 Feb 2022
HC 655
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
4.4 yrs
Report published
25 Feb 2022