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Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and employment support

Work and Pensions Committee HC 600 Published 19 July 2023
Report Status
Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations
38 items (25 recs)
Government Response
AI assessment · 38 of 38 classified
Accepted 11
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 8
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 8
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Recommendations

25 results
1 Accepted
Para 49

Integrate mental health support and job readiness training into future DWP programmes for young people

Recommendation
The pandemic has led to a steep rise in mental health problems among young people. Whilst maintaining steady employment often helps people to sustain good mental health, problems with mental health are a principal barrier to employment for many 16-to-24-year-olds. … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government highlights close collaboration with DHSC and NHS and lists several existing and planned interventions, such as Employment Advisers in NHS Talking Therapies and the Universal Support programme, that integrate mental health support for young people. It also notes that DWP work coaches receive training to assist claimants with mental health conditions.
Department for Work and Pensions
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2 Accepted in Part
Para 50

Expand Youth Hub eligibility for economically inactive young people not claiming Universal Credit

Recommendation
DWP Youth Hubs offer vital services to young people and the provision of mental health support services in all Youth Hubs is a critical part of that. However, not all young people who need this support are currently able to … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government announced expanded access to the Youth Offer for young people on Universal Credit, but states that extending services to economically inactive young people not claiming Universal Credit remains at the discretion of individual Youth Hubs or their partners.
Department for Work and Pensions
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4 Rejected
Para 52

Establish an overarching funding structure and dedicated pot for all Youth Hubs

Recommendation
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 … Read more
Government Response Summary
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 underway, with findings to be shared internally to inform future improvements.
Department for Work and Pensions
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5 Accepted in Part
Para 53

Roll out Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care nationally with devolved administrations

Recommendation
We welcome the joint DWP and the DHSC Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) initiative that has tried out embedding employment support in mental health services for mild to moderate mental health conditions. The Department should work with … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that the IPSPC programme already targets individuals with both physical and mental health conditions and is being extended to support more disabled people in England. While health is devolved, they commit to sharing expertise and exploring opportunities for wider availability of evidence-based models with devolved administrations.
Department for Work and Pensions
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6 Rejected
Para 54

Complete national rollout of Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care by March 2024

Recommendation
The Government should have the IPSPC initiative rolled out across the country by the end of this financial year in March 2024.
Government Response Summary
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
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7 Deferred
Para 57

Increase Housing Benefit applicable amount for young people in supported accommodation to remove cliff edge

Recommendation
The benefit rules for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit can interact in such a way that a cliff edge arises when claimants in supported accommodation who must Plan for Jobs and employment support 81 claim both benefits work more than … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the challenge but states that the recommended approach would be challenging to implement by April 2024. They are designing a proof of concept with the West Midlands Combined Authority to test financial support for young people.
Department for Work and Pensions
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9 Rejected
Para 65

Produce employer hiring guide within six months encouraging flexible and part-time working opportunities

Recommendation
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 … Read more
Government Response Summary
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
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10 Accepted in Part
Para 82

Support employers to create job roles and workplaces attractive to older workers.

Recommendation
Ageism in the workplace is an important issue that needs to be confronted if this demographic is to be successfully supported to stay in or re-enter employment. Employers should be supported by DWP to create job roles and a workplace … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states it is committed to helping older workers through existing programmes like Midlife MOTs and engaging with the private sector. However, it does not propose to establish any new age-specific schemes for employers at this time.
Department for Work and Pensions
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11 Rejected
Para 83

Establish an accreditation scheme to champion older workers and improve workplaces for over 50s.

Recommendation
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 … Read more
Government Response Summary
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
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15 Deferred
Para 104

Implement research recommendations following the expansion of the SME occupational health subsidy pilot.

Recommendation
There is inadequate access to occupational health services, especially for those working for small businesses. The rise in the number of people who are economically inactive due to long-term health conditions and high rates of economic inactivity among disabled people … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government confirmed the OH SME subsidy pilot is in design with timelines to be confirmed and findings will inform future recommendations, thereby not providing a detailed timeline for initiatives nor committing to releasing findings by the prorogation deadline.
Department for Work and Pensions
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18 Accepted
Para 116

Ensure maximum take-up and monitor accessibility of the new Mid-life MOT website.

Recommendation
Some over 50s who stopped working after the pandemic may not have the financial security they need to support themselves for the rest of their lives. We welcome the new Midlife MOT website launched by DWP on 5 July 2023 … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government confirms it is already delivering Midlife MOTs in Jobcentres and piloting them through private sector suppliers, alongside an enhanced digital offer, directly addressing the committee's call for in-person services. It also highlights ongoing efforts to engage employers and promote age-inclusive workforce policies.
Department for Work and Pensions
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19 Acknowledged
Para 124

Expand eligibility for support programmes to include economically inactive people not receiving benefits.

Recommendation
The UK labour market is facing high rates of economic inactivity, driven up as a result of the pandemic and the ending of freedom of movement. Although rates have now somewhat recovered, there are many more people outside the labour … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government highlights the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for local investment and outlines an additional comprehensive cross-government support package, including the WorkWell Partnerships Programme, aimed at increasing workforce participation for economically inactive groups. However, it does not explicitly commit to expanding DWP's own programme eligibility for non-benefit recipients as requested.
Department for Work and Pensions
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21 Acknowledged
Para 135

Apply lessons from Kickstart evaluation to inform the design of future similar schemes

Recommendation
We have heard numerous positive reports about Kickstart, however, without a comprehensive analysis of Kickstart or any publication of data on employment outcome, it is not possible to say with any assurance how successful the scheme has been or what … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that its employment support programmes, including the 'Plan for Jobs' package, undergo comprehensive analysis and evaluation, with outcomes measured and reported externally. However, it does not specifically confirm how lessons from the Kickstart evaluation will be applied to future schemes along Kickstart's lines.
Department for Work and Pensions
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23 Accepted in Part
Para 148

Launch targeted marketing campaign to raise Access to Work awareness among employers and disabled people

Recommendation
Access to Work is seen as being a very successful programme with positive impacts for claimants. However, employer awareness of the scheme is limited and there are many more people with a disability or health condition who could benefit from … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government has introduced Adjustments Passports to raise awareness of Access to Work among employers and disabled people and continues to explore new channels, but has not committed to launching a full marketing campaign as recommended.
Department for Work and Pensions
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25 Accepted
Para 150

Update Access to Work document submission process to allow all documentation online by 2023

Recommendation
The Access to Work system is outdated and often unable to accept online document submission or e-signatures. A system that requires applications and claims must be 84 Plan for Jobs and employment support sent in by hand acts as a … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government confirms that a new online process for Access to Work grant claims was introduced in June 2023, enabling customers to submit new claims, upload evidence, and have claims digitally countersigned, fully addressing the recommendation before the specified deadline.
Department for Work and Pensions
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26 Accepted
Para 152

Review Disability Employment Adviser numbers and enhance specialist support for disabled Jobcentre users

Recommendation
In line with our recommendation in our Disability employment gap Report, we recommend that DWP should review the number of DEAs and the support that Jobcentre Plus staff receive on supporting disabled people. DWP need to ensure that there is … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that all work coaches and DEAs already undergo comprehensive and ongoing learning, which is regularly reviewed. The DEA role was also redesigned in 2019 to provide specialist health-related coaching and support.
Department for Work and Pensions
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29 Accepted
Para 181

Re-focus DWP programmes on sustainable employment and publish long-term outcome metrics

Recommendation
The Way to Work campaign focused on moving people into work as quickly as possible, without considering whether this work was suitable or sustainable in the long-term. This approach may reduce unemployment in the short-term, but the long-term positive impacts … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government asserts that DWP already provides comprehensive support for individuals to achieve sustained and quality employment, citing the In-Work Progression offer and Restart scheme's focus on sustained outcomes. It also states that its employment support programmes undergo comprehensive evaluation, measuring and reporting on long-term employment and benefit outcomes externally.
Department for Work and Pensions
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30 Deferred
Para 190

Consider removing employer National Insurance payments for new employees on benefits for 12 months.

Recommendation
DWP and the Government should consider and provide a response to the Good Jobs Project recommendation that the Government remove the requirement for employers to pay employer National Insurance for 12 months for new employees who were in receipt of … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government noted the recommendations and will engage with the Good Jobs Project but explicitly stated it has no plans to issue a formal response. It also deflected the tax policy recommendation, stating it is a matter for HMT.
Department for Work and Pensions
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31 Accepted
Para 191

Provide continued employment support to vulnerable claimants transitioning into work for 3-6 months.

Recommendation
DWP’s employment support services do not currently offer much support beyond the point of securing employment. People who have multiple or complex barriers to employment or who have been unemployed for a long time are often seen as Plan for … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating its Universal Support program will provide personalised in-work support for up to 12 months for at-risk claimants, exceeding the recommended 3-6 months. It also highlights an increase in the Administrative Earnings Threshold and a new voluntary in-work progression offer for low earners.
Department for Work and Pensions
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32 Accepted
Para 207

Introduce pilot of Jobs Plus programme with community development approach in high unemployment areas.

Recommendation
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 … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government is supportive of the Jobs Plus concept and will be implementing a pilot scheme based on the Jobs Plus model.
Department for Work and Pensions
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33 Accepted in Part
Para 227

Devolve future employment support programmes to local authorities based on NHS care boundaries.

Recommendation
The current centralised delivery model for employment support does not make the most of local knowledge or expertise and promotes a one-size-fits-all approach to support design. A more devolved approach to support design and delivery would allow support to be … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to automatically devolve all future employment support programmes, citing concerns about consistency and value for money. However, it commits to trialling a more devolved approach within the Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities to evaluate its effectiveness before wider rollout.
Department for Work and Pensions
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34 Accepted in Part
Para 228

Establish a devolved employment support system within a national framework with DWP oversight.

Recommendation
DWP should establish a system of devolved support that sits within a National Framework where DWP maintains oversight of programmes to ensure that delivery is of a high and consistent standard, that value is delivered to the taxpayer and that … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to automatically devolve all employment support, preferring a programme-by-programme approach, but has committed to trialling a more devolved approach in specific 'Trailblazer' deals with Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities to evaluate its effectiveness.
Department for Work and Pensions
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35 Rejected

Implement a devolved support model to separate employment support and benefit administration.

Recommendation
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 … Read more
Government Response Summary
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
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36 Not Addressed
Para 242

Publish quarterly performance data for all employment programmes by January 2024 for transparency.

Recommendation
We welcome the recent publication of Restart statistics but there is more work to be done to if the Department is to provide transparent accountability across the range of DWP employment services. DWP lacks transparency around programme performance, making proper … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states it currently publishes quarterly statistics for the Work and Health Programme and 6-monthly for the Restart Scheme. It commits to continue publishing and developing future employment programme publications but does not agree to release results for *all* programmes on a quarterly basis by 1 January 2024.
Department for Work and Pensions
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37 Rejected
Para 243

Establish clear targets and measure performance for all programmes following OSR guidance.

Recommendation
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 … Read more
Government Response Summary
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
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Conclusions (13)

Observations and findings
3 Conclusion Deferred
Para 51
DWP should ensure that mental health support services continue to be set up in all new Youth Hub locations as a mandatory element. DWP needs to set clear guidance for these services to ensure a baseline standard of delivery across the Youth Hubs network.
Government Response Summary
The government did not commit to making mental health support mandatory in Youth Hubs or setting clear guidance, stating that future evaluations of the Youth Offer will inform any improvements or changes to policy.
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8 Conclusion Acknowledged
Para 61
We welcome the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work’s intention for “a root and branch” review of the Disability Confident scheme and his acknowledgment of the role this will play in changing attitudes around disabled workers.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the review of the Disability Confident Scheme, stating work was paused due to a High Court decision but has now resumed, with officials refining recommendations based on gathered evidence.
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12 Conclusion 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 Summary
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 a review to ensure employers are aware of requirements.
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13 Conclusion Deferred
Para 85
Employers at level 2 should also be required to publish the percentage of disabled employees at their organisation. This would send a much stronger signal to disabled people in the labour market about which employers employ disabled people and have supportive, accommodating working environments.
Government Response Summary
The government stated it is considering extending reporting requirements for Disability Confident, including for Level 2 employers, and will be informed by the findings of the Disability Workforce Reporting Consultation.
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14 Conclusion Deferred
Para 99
DWP should consider the potential that income protection insurance has to help people experiencing illness or injury remain in employment, support their return to work and reduce the financial burden on DWP when people become unable to work. DWP should explore how income protection insurance could work alongside occupational health …
Government Response Summary
The government agreed income protection insurance can be valuable but largely deflected the specific call to explore it alongside occupational health, referring instead to ongoing consultations on occupational health services and an SME subsidy pilot that will inform future policy.
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16 Conclusion Deferred
Para 105
DWP should also use the SME subsidy pilot to conduct research on employee attitudes to occupational health and barriers to take-up. This should be done with a view to establishing a requirement for employees to participate in occupational health services following an extended health-related absence from work to support their …
Government Response Summary
The government deflected the recommendation to use the SME subsidy pilot for research on employee attitudes and barriers to occupational health, stating the pilot's purpose is to test financial incentives for increasing OH access for SMEs.
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17 Conclusion Accepted
Para 106
Creating opportunities for older workers to remain active in the labour market for longer is important for reducing economic inactivity. The Government’s Returnerships initiative looks to support older workers to change career but does not attempt to reduce the loss of industry experience and expertise that this will entail. DWP …
Government Response Summary
The government stated that its specialist 50 Plus Champions already facilitate employer-led mentoring workshops, which can be sector-specific, and the Taking Teaching Further program supports over 50s in sharing their industry expertise as FE teachers.
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20 Conclusion Accepted
The Restart scheme has seen an underspend against its budget since it was launched in 2021. Despite this, strict eligibility criteria mean that many people who would benefit from the support of the programme are not able to access help. Where there are programme underspends or lower than expected uptake …
Government Response Summary
The government explained the past underspend was due to quicker economic recovery and they already expanded eligibility from 12-18 months to 9 months in Intensive Work Search. They did not commit to further expansion for the economically inactive or new publicity.
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22 Conclusion Accepted
Para 140
We welcome that the Department has already responded positively to our request to publish Restart statistics regularly. The previous lack of transparency around how the programme was performing and its employment outcomes for participants had prevented valuable external assessment of the scheme and limited DWP’s accountability for the programme outcomes. …
Government Response Summary
The government states it already produces and publishes statistics for its employment programmes and will continue to develop future publications for transparency.
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24 Conclusion Accepted
Para 149
DWP should roll out the Work Adjustment Passport for everyone who receives support from Access to Work to support people transitioning into work or between jobs. This would make it easier to access support and obtain adjustments quickly.
Government Response Summary
DWP has already rolled out two tailored Adjustments Passports nationally for disabled jobseekers and armed forces service leavers, with a third for university students due in Autumn 2023. Work is underway to develop a generic passport.
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27 Conclusion Rejected
Para 159
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 Summary
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.
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28 Conclusion Deferred
The move from ESF to UKSPF is of significant concern for external support providers. Whilst the Government’s eventual decision to lift the restriction on the use of the UKSPF for people and skills spending is welcome, there is still expected to be disruption due to comparatively less funding under the …
Government Response Summary
The government deflected responsibility to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and local authorities for UKSPF funding. It did not commit to expanding the Flexible Support Fund, describing it instead as a £60m discretionary fund for local jobcentre staff to tailor support.
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38 Conclusion Acknowledged
The Government’s Plan for Jobs and DWP’s response to the pandemic introduced a number of measures to support the recovery of the labour market and help people return to work. Although these initiatives have shown some success at helping people re-enter the labour market, they have not been able to …
Government Response Summary
The government thanks the Committee, affirms the success of the Plan for Jobs, and highlights a comprehensive package of cross-government measures announced in Spring Budget 2023 aimed at increasing workforce participation and reducing economic inactivity among identified groups.
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