DWP sets out details of Jobcentre Plus Offer

New equality impact assessment on offer designed to help jobcentre advisers 'focus on delivering results rather than completing activity and processes'

20 October, 2011

The DWP has set out details of the Jobcentre Plus Offer.

In a new equality impact assessment on the Jobcentre Plus Offer, the DWP says that it is designed to create a framework in which jobcentre advisers 'can focus on delivering results rather than completing activity and processes'.

The DWP goes on to set out key features of the framework - including a minimum policy requirement, differentiated between benefits but including face-to-face meetings; the absence of centrally-prescribed personal adviser roles based on benefit type; a flexible menu of support options; and a Flexible Support Fund (FSF) to fund additional help - before giving details of the 'core regime' for claimants of different benefits including -

for jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants -

• for all jobseekers there will be an interview at the start of the claim at which the adviser makes clear what is expected in return for receiving benefit and identifies disabled peoples’ support needs and requirements for reasonable adjustments any specific barriers to working;
• the agreed actions will captured in a jobseeker’s agreement and signed;
• JSA claimants will continue to be seen at least fortnightly for face-to-face fortnightly jobsearch reviews for the duration of their claim; and
• the same principles will apply in future to those meeting the equivalent qualifying conditions for universal credit; -

for employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants -

• claimants moving into the ESA work related activity group (WRAG) will have their first work-focused interview (WFI) shortly after the outcome of the work capability assessment  is known - for lone parents in the ESA WRAG (and partners of ESA claimants with children), this will take place once their youngest child reaches the age of one;
• the adviser will ensure that the claimant’s plans to prepare for work are discussed and captured in their action plan and will work with the claimant to identify any specific barriers to working;
• ESA claimants will have WFIs delivered flexibly - the timing and duration of each WFI will be at the discretion of the adviser and could take place in person or on the telephone: however the adviser feels is most appropriate for the claimant;
• claimants may also be required to undertake work related activity (WRA) at the discretion of the adviser and can be referred to appropriate support from the menu of provision available and from external organisations, to be facilitated by the Flexible Support Fund where appropriate;
• WRAG claimants who are lone parents with a youngest child under five will not be required to undertake WRA;
• ESA support group, WRAG and credits only claimants who are lone parents with a youngest child under one, and full time carers, will be able to volunteer for support from the Jobcentre Plus offer and, if they choose to volunteer for the Jobcentre Plus offer, they will not be subject to the WFI or WRA requirements; -

for income support (IS) claimants -

• the requirements will be 'fairly light-touch', with WFIs at regular intervals predicated on the age of the claimant’s youngest child;
• for most IS claimants WFIs will take place every six months (except for those with children under the age of one, who will not have mandatory interviews);
• in the last year before the claimant moves to JSA or ESA, WFIs will become more regular – once every three months; and
• lone parents, partners and carers on IS will be able to receive voluntary personalised support, provided through the Flexible Support Fund; -

for incapacity benefits (IB) claimants -

• pre-reassessment, claimants on IB will be able to access the Jobcentre Plus offer on a voluntary basis and, if they choose to volunteer for the Jobcentre Plus offer, will not be subject to the conditionality or WRA requirements; and
• eligible claimants on IB in England will also be able to volunteer for the Work Programme, as long as European Social Fund funding is available.

In addition, the equality impact assessment sets out details of the 'flexible menu of support options' including skills provision, apprenticeships, adviser jobsearch support and the Work Programme.

The Jobcentre Plus Offer equality impact assessment is available from the DWP website.