Recommendation 32

Support that is tailored to the needs of the individual produces better long-term results that not only gets people into work but helps them overcome the barriers to employment that were preventing them from gaining and sustaining employment. If these challenges are not dealt with effectively and individuals are not adequately prepared for the workplace, people run the risk of falling back into unemployment. However, to feel able to access wraparound support, trust needs to have been established between the person accessing the support and the person providing support. The Jobs Plus programmes we visited in the US seemed to have built that trust and rapport by using a community development approach to delivery. DWP should adopt a person-centred approach to future support initiatives which not only help people to find work but also to overcome barriers to employment. Schemes should bring together a range of services necessary to help address physical and mental health problems, intensive employment coaching, support for acquiring skills and qualifications, debt support and transport solutions. To achieve this, the Government should introduce a pilot of the Jobs Plus programme in the UK. Priority should be given to holding pilots, using a community development approach, in areas of high unemployment and high inactivity.

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