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Effective Interventions Unit Moving On: Update Employability And Employment For Recovering Drug Users

Chapter 6: Mainstream Service Provision

Mainstream education, training and employment services are the main provider of services. Although they have to meet the needs of the whole population, bringing in the 'hardest to help' groups under a wider social inclusion agenda is an increasing feature of these services. Moreover, in areas, such as rural areas, where there are very few specialist services, mainstream services may provide targeted services to a range of groups, including drug users.

Jobcentre Plus

Introduced in April 2002, this new agency brings together the Employment Service and the part of the Benefit Agency that supported people of working age. Jobcentre Plus takes forward the Welfare to Work approach ('work for those who can, security for those who cannot') by delivering a single integrated service to people of working age in receipt of state benefit. In practical terms, support previously offered to assist Job Seekers Allowance recipients return to work is now extended to new claimants of other Working Age Benefits. By far the most significant new client group is Incapacity Benefit claimants. In addition, Jobcentre Plus aims to tailor its services to meet the demands of employers. The introduction of Field Account Managers and the implementation of the 'Ambitions' initiatives aim to respond to employers' needs more effectively.

For information:www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

New Deal

The New Deal is an approach to tackling unemployment and is part of the Government's Welfare to Work strategy. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) funds the initiative and policy is reserved to the UK government. Jobcentre Plus administers and manages the programme. The Scottish Executive's Enterprise, Transport and Life Long Learning Department (ETLLD) liaises with DWP on the delivery of New Deal in Scotland.

Programmes including New Deal for Young People, New Deal 25+, 50+ and Lone Parents are established and performing across Scotland. Although the challenge of delivering on these programmes is still substantial, more recently the focus of New Deal has been on supporting the more disadvantaged into the labour market, particularly those with multiple disadvantages. The aim is to make the various strands more flexible and boost the capacity to buy in appropriate specialist services. New Deal programmes are also developing ways of increasing employer engagement in Welfare to Work. However, some evidence suggests that New Deal is still better able to respond to more conventional labour market problems than to those of a personal and social nature.

Action Teams for Jobs

A UK wide employment programme that aims to increase employment rates amongst disadvantaged groups in employment deprived areas. Action Teams for Jobs operate in local authority wards, they are able to use their resources flexibly and participants are not required to undertake specific activities. Assistance is open to all jobless individuals living in a particular ward and participation is voluntary. There are Scottish Action Team areas in North Lanarkshire, City of Dundee, Glasgow, East Ayrshire, Highlands and Islands and West Dunbartonshire open to disadvantaged groups living in these areas, including those with serious and long established drug and alcohol problems. Action Teams form partnerships with a variety of private, public and voluntary organisations. The aim is to provide flexible and innovative solutions to help welfare recipients, particularly those furthest from the labour market. By May 2003, Action Teams in Scotland had helped more than 10,000 people into work.

Step Up - Transitional employment pilots

Step Up is a UK wide intermediate labour market initiative, operated by managing agents, offering a waged job for up to 50 weeks to clients who remain out of work six months after completion of their period on New Deal. Although eligible for another period on New Deal they are placed into work through Step Up. There are pilot schemes in East Ayrshire and Dundee. Step Up provides intensive support to the hardest to reach clients who have been out of work for some time. It aims to give people the self-esteem and confidence to hold down a job as well as providing skills and a work record.

Employment Zones

This is a UK Government initiative that aims to increase the employment rates of disadvantaged groups in the labour market. It is a mandatory programme for clients over 25 and unemployed for more than 18 months. Personal job accounts combine money previously available for benefits and training and allow the Personal Advisor to provide support according to each individual's needs and aspirations. Each participant receives the equivalent of benefit for up to 26 weeks while they are on the second step. The only Scottish Zone is in Glasgow and began in April 2000. It is operated by Working Links, a public / private sector partnership of Jobcentre Plus, Manpower PLC and Cap Gemini-Ernst and Young. From October 2003 Employment Zones will be extended to Lone Parents and those returning to the New Deal 18-24 for a second time.

Programme centres

These are run on behalf of Jobcentre Plus by providers from the public, private and voluntary sectors. They provide a range of modules giving help and advice on job search techniques, alternative jobs and training, and on increasing motivation and confidence in returning to work. They also have the flexibility to deliver extra, locally based modules which may help participants overcome other obstacles to employment.

Employment and Benefit Surgeries in Prisons

These surgeries focus on the needs of prisoners both upon admittance and pre-release. Surgeries are run by Jobcentre Plus staff, working alongside Scottish Prison Service staff and other agencies. During induction each prisoner has a one to one interview with a Jobcentre Plus advisor to ensure that benefit are sorted out claims. The advisor will also take action to secure employment where appropriate and provide signposting role for accommodation issues. Prior to release the advisor will offer a further one to one interview primarily aimed at finding suitable education, training or employment opportunities for the prisoner upon release.

Benefit Issues

The UK Government's 'Welfare to Work' agenda emphasises 'work for those who can, security for those who cannot'. However, there are long-standing concerns that the motivation to become employed is not always supported by the benefit system and that more support may be needed to ensure job retention (Macdougall et al forthcoming). Very often the package of benefits a client receives is such that they do not consider it worthwhile to take low paid employment. In addition, perceived delays in processing in-work benefits can act as a disincentive for clients. Evaluation of Phase 1 of New Futures Fund identified the loss of Housing Benefit and the sudden loss of Incapacity Benefit on increasing hours of training or employment as the main benefit barrier to employment amongst its clients.

There has been an increase in 'in-work' benefits such as Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit, Back to Work Bonus and Job Grant. These can help ease the transition from benefits to work. More specifically, the introduction of Permitted Work in April 2002 means that people on Incapacity and other benefits are able to try some paid work without prior approval from a doctor. This allows people to work:

• for earnings up to and including 20 per week for unlimited period

• for less than 16 hours per week, on average, with earnings of up to and including 67.50 per week for a period of 26 weeks.

For information on benefit issues, contact your local jobcentre. You will find details of local centres onwww.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

Careers Scotland (CS)

Part of Scottish Enterprise and Highland and Island Enterprise, CS is an information and guidance service offering comprehensive independent advice on employment, enterprise and learning opportunities. CS is an important part of the Skills Strategy of the Enterprise Network, working closely with Futureskills Scotland and Skills Development. It aims to help people examine their career potential, support employers and improve the operation of the labour market. Working with a range of employers, CS offers support with vacancies and recruitment, workforce development advice and planning, labour market intelligence and legislative guidance. CS is also developing an Assessment Framework covering the common principles of assessment for young people. The aim of the framework is to support organisations and workers to better meet the needs of individual clients. For more information on Careers Scotland seewww.careers-scotland.org.uk

Get Ready For Work (GRFW)

This national training model replaced Skillseekers (Special Training Needs) in April 2002. It aims to raise the skills of young people (age 16-18) with additional support needs, in order to close the opportunity gap. It is operated by the Enterprise Network in partnership with Careers Scotland.

The programme is based on 4 strands: Life Skills, Core Skills, Vocational Skills and Personal Skills. Focusing on progression to mainstream Skillseekers, Further Education and pre-vocational qualifications, GRFW offers a progression route for clients of Beattie Inclusiveness Pilots and NFF.

Participation is on a full-time, part-time or ad-hoc basis dependent on the training strand, and clients have access to up front assessment services. Individual training plans based on the strand(s) and the timescale, both created to meet the needs of the young person, are drawn up at the initial assessment. Client progress is monitored throughout.

Training For Work

A labour market programme aiming to help unemployed and disadvantage adults improve their work related skills and increase their chances of getting a job. Funded by the Scottish Executive, this programme is delivered by training providers contracted to the Enterprise Network.

European Social Fund

In April 2000, the European Commission adopted a new Objective 3 Programme for Scotland for 2000-2006. Total funding available is 310 million. The purpose is to prevent and combat unemployment and to support social integration into the labour market. One of the key priorities is to enhance the opportunities available to individuals currently excluded from economic and social activities. Education, training and employment programmes are eligible for funding. More information on ESF funds is available from the Scottish ESF Objective 3 Partnership, Caithness House, 127 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5JF, E-mailenquiries@objective3.org , website, websitewww.objective3.org , telephone 0141-582-0401., telephone 0141-582-0401.

Further Education Colleges

FE colleges have a long and successful history of providing programmes that ease the transition from education and training to the workplace and provide many routes of progression into mainstream programmes. Over the past ten years student numbers have increased by 110% which means colleges had to develop a more productive infrastructure of support to students. This is in line with Scottish Executive policy of widening access to break down barriers to participation. Although not all colleges provide dedicated services to those recovering from substance misuse, very often programmes and services aimed at groups with special needs or harder to reach groups will be accessed by this client group. In recent years several FE Colleges have been successful in developing a range of services in partnership with other agencies including treatment and care providers and employability service providers.

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