Training Opportunity : Scotland partnership opportunity with Jobcentre Plus
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is looking for new, creative, unique and innovative proposal which will be delivered by Scottish ADP’s working together in partnership to improve the job prospects for people and communities facing the most complex barriers to employment.
This will focus on:
- Confidence Building
- Identify and improve soft skills including socialisation & communication skills
- Identify opportunities to improve CV, gain interview skills, and learn about employer expectations
- Identifying positive outcomes including employment, education, volunteering opportunities
We are looking for a proposal for IPS Workers:
IPS (Individual Placement and Support) supports people with severe mental health difficulties into employment. It involves intensive, individual support, a rapid job search followed by placement in paid employment, and time-unlimited in-work support for both the employee and the employer.
The principles of IPS:
IPS has been shown to be more effective the more closely it follows these eight principles:
- It aims to get people into competitive employment
- It is open to all those who want to work
- It tries to find jobs consistent with people's preferences
- It works quickly
- It brings employment specialists into clinical teams
- Employment specialists develop relationships with employers based upon a person's work preferences
- It provides time unlimited, individualised support for the person and their employer
- Benefits counselling is included.
- Individually tailored employability support for a person in recovery who is a maximum 9 months away from the labour market.
- Lead Accountable Body is able to employ and monitor the progress of the project to ensure project moves at pace.
- IPS Addiction Worker should have lived experience or have worked within this field previously to have an awareness of barriers faced.
- IPS Addiction Worker to build relationships with recovery organisations within local area to ensure flow of referrals.
- IPS Addiction Worker to liaise with single point of contact within JCP’s to ensure appropriate information is shared with Work Coach.
- IPS Addiction Worker to engage fully with employability & voluntary services within locality to ensure full support to customer is given and opportunities identified.
- IPS Addiction Worker to work with JCP E&P Teams to identify and follow up leads to employers and provision available including Sector-Based Work Academies, Disability Confident, Kickstart….
- IPS Addiction Worker to identify other positive destinations if employment is not possible for any reason (i.e. college/volunteering/long term training)
- IPS Addiction Worker to support customer in employment for up to 4 months to ensure that any barriers are overcome and the customer retains employment.
- IPS Addiction Worker to have an understanding of Access to Work and liaise with appropriate person within JCP for support with employer.
- 10-15 customers to be on a caseload at one time. This does not include those who are in a positive destination. Numbers can be negotiated depending on local need.
Location:
Scotland wide – including remote areas and islands
Claimant groups:
Customers with Addictive Behaviours Claimants in this cohort have multiple barriers to life and employment, needing intensive programme support, in addition to the Jobcentre Plus offer. They could have one or more of the following issues:
- Health (Physical and Mental)
- Money issues
- Housing
- Literacy/Numeracy
- Community Justice/Disclosure issues
- IT Accessibility and skills
(This list is not exhaustive)
Therefore, these claimants will require individual solutions.
Minimum requirements for the partnership:
Your proposal should last for approx. 18 months for those who need complex support. It should detail how your partnership, with other organisations, will address the claimant needs and barriers, stating which element each partner will deliver. Tangible outcomes and expected destinations should be given for participants who complete your programme, such as employment, an apprenticeship, training, education or volunteering.
We are seeking proposals which will avoid duplication of services and cannot be purchased in line with procurement and EU law, whilst developing a solution to the ‘what’s next?’ question where the partnership can holistically support an individual through a particular issue: health, lifestyle, lack of skills and so on.
We would want the provision to be person centred, peer/mentor led and tailored for the locality. A mixture of delivery styles that suits the customer group.
We will offer a grant to a recognised Lead Accountable Body (LAB) who will manage and be accountable for the money on behalf of the partnership. A LAB must be a legal, not for profit entity with auditable accounts such as a voluntary organisation, charity, local authority, a Community Interest Company (CIC), Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) or equivalent, or a commercial organisation operating within state aid De Minimis regulations and must be determined as eligible, based on the Departments Financial Viability and Risk assessment. Please note Flexible Support Fund (FSF) Partnership Grant Funding will constitute State Aid.
The Lead Accountable Body will need in its application to clearly describe:
- which cohort it will support
- the reason why the customers you are planning to work with cannot be supported by existing training provision for example, Fair Start Scotland, New Enterprise Allowance, Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) funded college courses and so on
- the reason why the proposed partnership delivers more than existing services delivered to customers by Jobcentre Plus, existing provision and the private sector
- evidence that the partnership has considered the needs of the local labour market (and travel to work area), its customers and the local community, as well as having consulted with local Jobcentre Plus offices to confirm this
- details of how many customers the partnership opportunity will support, the length of the programme and the anticipated start date
- details of what outcomes will be delivered by the Grant Funded programme. There is an expectation that 60% of those who start will progress into further training, work experience, education, volunteering or paid employment. If this figure cannot be achieved, an explanation giving reasons why should be included
- detailed costs of delivering the project, including a breakdown of items being provided by match funding or pooled resources and details of how funding will be disbursed to the delivery partners
Please note, Recovery Workers in partnership with JCP Offices will identify and refer its customers to the programme.
Any application received without all of the above information will not be considered.
Subject to the Grant application being successful, the grant would be awarded to a recognised Lead Accountable Body (LAB), who will manage and be accountable for the money on behalf of the partnership. A LAB must be a legal, not for profit entity with auditable accounts such as a LA, voluntary organisation, charity etc. operating within state aid De Minimis regulations (no more than 500,000 euros in the last 3 years) and must be determined as eligible, based on the Departments Financial Viability and Risk assessment. Please note Flexible Support Fund (FSF) Partnership Grant Funding will constitute State Aid.