Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Deferred
Previous 'ABC' employment support approach has failed to deliver sustainable work or good outcomes.
Conclusion
The previous Government’s ‘ABC’ approach to employment support (any job, better job, career) has not worked. While it may move people off benefits in the short-term, it all too often does not lead to long-term, sustainable employment and exacerbates the low-pay, no-pay cycle. This is not a good outcome for claimants, employers or the taxpayer. We are pleased to hear that DWP will no longer force people into ‘any job’ available, with support 55 instead to focus on building rewarding careers. DWP must now match its aspiration with action. DWP will need to be open to the fact that finding good jobs may initially involve people spending longer on out-of-work benefits, but it will deliver better value for money in the long-term, with them less likely to return to benefits in the future. (Conclusion, Paragraph 91)
Government Response Summary
The government committed to developing and testing a Flexible Delivery Network model, including mobile delivery vans in three geographies and a toolkit for community-based support, to address economic inactivity. However, it did not explicitly address the committee's call to move away from an 'any job' approach towards encouraging 'good jobs' even if it means longer periods on benefits.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
DWP recognises the value of working collaboratively within communities, operating from a range of locations, to deliver timely, tailored support to customers. We are developing and testing a Flexible Delivery Network model to address economic inactivity by bringing DWP support directly into local communities. We will work with trusted organisations to ensure we provide the right support at the right time in the right place for our customers. To support and inform this we are: • Testing mobile delivery via vans in 3 geographies – Greater Manchester (Bolton), North East Scotland (Aviemore and Nairn), North and mid Wales. These provide advice and support and extend our reach. Collaboration with local partners, employers and leaders informs the van schedule to ensure that optimal locations are selected. The focus is on those customers who face challenges accessing traditional Jobcentres. We plan to iterate and expand the service from winter 2025. • Designing a flexible toolkit for community-based delivery to professionalise our outreach, incorporating signage, products, and digital enablers to support customer self-service for implementation in locally agreed geographies to meet customer needs. • Using the mapping tool which provides data on outreach partnerships across the Jobcentre network to identify further opportunities, such as semi-permanent presences in leisure centres and shopping centres, to provide employment and recruitment support through local and national partnerships.