Fifteenth Report - DWP Employment support

The government accepted the recommendation and stated it was implemented, having provided a letter to the committee on 29 September 2021. The response detailed its contingency plans, including increased staff, estate expansion, a resilient digital service, and flexible service delivery to ensure employment support continues during any future surges in claims.

The government accepts the recommendation, stating it has changed how diversity data is collected for Universal Credit, will ensure evaluations consider diversity characteristics, and is working with the ONS to monitor unemployment trends by ethnicity and age.

The government agrees with the recommendation, highlighting its existing regular engagement with local authorities and employers in designing and implementing schemes. It also commits to regularly publishing a list of locally available provision, including information from the District Provision Tool, by December 2022.

The government states the recommendation is implemented, detailing how it successfully managed the initial claims surge and has built flexibility through recruitment, digital services, and expanded estate to ensure preparedness for any future increase in claimants.

The government agreed with the underlying concern and stated the recommendation (from a similar context) was implemented, detailing how it managed past claim surges through easements, recruitment, and estate expansion. It highlighted its resilient digital service and increased flexibility to ensure continued support for claimants in any future surges.

The government accepted the recommendation and stated it was implemented, having changed its diversity data collection method for Universal Credit claims, resulting in an increasing declaration rate above 70%. It committed to ensuring evaluations consider diversity characteristics and collect ethnicity and disability data during research.

The government accepted the recommendation and stated it was implemented, confirming it is working with the Office for National Statistics to understand how best to monitor unemployment trends by ethnicity and age, while acknowledging data limitations due to small sample sizes.

The government responded that it already systematically gathers feedback via its annual Customer Experience Survey, with recent reports being finalised. It also stated it has work underway to evaluate the effectiveness of work coaches and inform its future delivery strategy, addressing the concern about consistency.

The government states the recommendation is implemented, detailing how it successfully managed the pandemic's claims surge through recruitment, digital services, and expanded Jobcentre Plus estate, confirming it is already taking action to address the priorities and challenges outlined.

The government states the recommendation (framed in its response as 4a) is implemented, confirming the National Disability Strategy was published on 28 July 2021 and detailing various existing DWP initiatives that support disabled people in employment.

The government states the recommendation (framed in its response as 4a) is implemented, confirming the National Disability Strategy was published on 28 July 2021 and outlining existing DWP initiatives that support disabled people into and within employment.

The government agreed with the recommendation but stated it was already implemented, describing existing regular engagement with local leaders and employers for understanding labour market issues and shaping employment programmes. It highlighted current collaborations and delegated commissioning in some areas.

The government accepted the recommendation, committing to regularly publish a list of locally available provision, including the District Provision Tool, by December 2022. It also stated Jobcentre Plus staff will continue working with local authorities to ensure up-to-date information.