Recommendation 18

The Department employs Kickstart district account managers to maintain relationships with employers. These account managers are expected to keep in touch with employers and to learn about young peoples’ experiences in their Kickstart jobs.74 The 64 Qq 55, 88–89; C&AG’s Report, paragraph 3.14. 65 C&AG’s Report, paragraph 3.14. 66 C&AG’s Report, paragraph 3.15. 67 Q57; C&AG’s Report, paragraph 3.12, ,3.13, 3.14. 68 Q57. 69 Q67. 70 Q67. 71 C&AG’s Report, paragraph 21. 72 Q77. 73 Q74. 74 Q80. 16 DWP Employment Support: Kickstart Scheme Department told us that district account managers focus particularly on employment support.75 The Department does not collate centrally the information from these discussions and acknowledged that the National Audit Office had raised a “good challenge about whether we properly collate information”.76 The Department keeps Kickstart participants’ online journals open while individuals are in a Kickstart job so that they can raise any concerns they have, although the National Audit Office reported that some journal messages were not dealt with promptly.77 The Department also offers voluntary appointments for participants to talk to their work coaches one and four months into a Kickstart job placement but, if the claimant does not respond after two days, work coaches are instructed to close the appointment.