Recommendations & Conclusions
8 items
4
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and empl…
Rejected
We welcome the expanded funding in Spring Budget 2023 for Youth Hubs. DWP need to establish an overarching funding structure and dedicated funding pot for Youth Hubs. DWP must also undertake an analysis of existing Youth Hubs to establish good practice and cost effectiveness. Knowledge and lessons learned should be …
Government response. The government rejected the call for an overarching funding structure and dedicated pot for Youth Hubs, highlighting that various existing funding mechanisms are already utilised. However, it confirmed that a Process Evaluation and impact assessment of the Youth Offer are …
Department for Work and Pensions
6
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and empl…
Rejected
The Government should have the IPSPC initiative rolled out across the country by the end of this financial year in March 2024.
Government response. The government stated that IPSPC services will support 25,000 people in 41 local authorities by March 2025, rather than rolling out nationally by March 2024 as recommended. Learning from IPSPC will inform the national Universal Support program from 2024.
Department for Work and Pensions
9
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and empl…
Rejected
Many people are not able to work full-time, and a lack of suitable, flexible work is barring people from engaging with the labour market. This is particularly evident for people who have additional needs or responsibilities which make more traditional working patterns challenging. DWP should produce a hiring guide within …
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation to produce a new hiring guide, stating that it will instead work with existing initiatives and the Flexible Working Taskforce to encourage employers to sign-up to the 'Happy To Talk Flexible Working' strapline.
Department for Work and Pensions
11
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and empl…
Rejected
DWP should establish a scheme which champions older workers and encourages employers to hire staff over the age of 50. This scheme should push to improve workplaces for older people by providing an outcomes-based accreditation to employers who can demonstrate that their workplace is welcoming and supportive of older workers. …
Government response. The government explicitly rejects establishing an age-specific scheme, accreditation, or data publication requirement for employers, instead highlighting existing initiatives like Midlife MOTs, employer engagement, and the Menopause Employment Champion to support older workers.
Department for Work and Pensions
12
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and empl…
Rejected
18,400 employers now have Disability Confident accreditation, helping to encourage employers to recognise the importance of making the workplace accessible for disabled people. However, this scheme focuses on processes rather than outcomes. It does not do enough to ensure that impactful change is being made to the working lives of …
Government response. The government rejected the introduction of banded thresholds for the percentage of disabled people employers must employ for Disability Confident accreditation, arguing they don't necessarily lead to fulfilling employment. It did state that it will be improving scheme guidance following …
Department for Work and Pensions
27
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and empl…
Rejected
With the withdrawal of the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), there is no longer a dedicated self-employment support programme provided by DWP. Many people, including older people and disabled people, would benefit from the opportunity to start their own business as a way to engage with the labour market. DWP should …
Government response. The government explicitly states it does not plan to develop a new self-employment support programme or evaluate the NEA, instead highlighting existing external support mechanisms and DWP's Flexible Support Fund.
Department for Work and Pensions
35
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and empl…
Rejected
The two-fold responsibilities of DWP to both provide employment support and administer benefits can deter people from seeking support and damage the trust that claimants have in support services. A more devolved model of support should be used to engender greater separation of employment support and benefit administration. (Paragraph 229) …
Government response. The government explicitly rejects the recommendation to separate employment support and benefit administration, asserting that conditionality remains a key lever for managing welfare spending.
Department for Work and Pensions
37
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and empl…
Rejected
DWP does not consistently set clear targets for its programmes or produce results against these targets. Where it has set targets previously, such as for Way to Work, these have been criticised as being inadequately defined and the results against these targets unsubstantiated. DWP should follow guidance from the Office …
Government response. The government describes its existing process for agreeing aims and objectives and monitoring policy performance, but states that the appropriateness of public targets and monitoring varies case-by-case, implicitly rejecting the recommendation to consistently apply OSR guidance for all programmes.
Department for Work and Pensions