Welfare Reform on the Web (August 2005): Social Security - UK - New Deal
ERSA: a new body for providers
D. Scott and C. Melvin
Working Brief, issue 165, June 2005, p.14-15
Article introduces the newly launched Employment Related Services Association and sets out its priorities for its first year. These include: reform of the current Jobcentre Plus procurement system, the reform of the New Deals, and helping disabled people gain employment through the Pathways to Work programme.
Five challenges for Labour’s third term
D. Simmonds
Working Brief, issue 165, June 2005, p.10-13
Outlines the five major challenges to be overcome to reach the Labour government's goal of full employment. These are:
- reforming Incapacity Benefit
- ending the recycling of workers between insecure jobs, benefits and programmes
- improving employment rates in inner cities
- raising skills levels
- reforming the New Deals and Jobcentre Plus, particularly with regard to contracting issues.
Jobcentre Plus evaluation: summary of evidence
J. Corkett and others
Department for Work and Pensions, 2005 (Research report; 252)
Jobcentre Plus aims to provide a single, work-focused service to both employers and benefit claimants of working age, and the evaluation monitored the delivery and performance of the service as it was rolled out. The evaluation consists of analysis of administrative data and externally commissioned social research. There is growing evidence that the integrated service is getting more lone parents and people with health conditions and disabilities into work. Job entries for these clients have increased both absolutely and relative to non-integrated districts. Evidence also suggests that increased interventions for these two groups have led to increased flows out of benefits. There is little evidence to suggest any impact on carers and the bereaved. The majority of clients reported they were satisfied or very satisfied with the new service. Staff also expressed very positive views about the new environment.
The role of work in low income families with children: a longitudinal qualitative study
J. Graham and others
Department for Work and Pensions, 2005 (Research report; 245)
Research showed clear benefits to families from sustaining work, including less reliance on expensive sources of credit such as loan sharks, accumulation of savings, repayment of debts, increased confidence and self-esteem and better social adjustment for children. Tax credits were viewed very positively as helping to make work sustainable. Financial management skills were essential in enabling families to reap the benefits of higher incomes.
Skills and the future of welfare to work
J. Mansour
Working Brief, issue 165, June 2005, p.16-17
Discusses the need to deliver retention and advancement services to people who have successfully transferred from welfare to work to enable them to acquire the skills they need to build careers.
Welfare to work: the economic context
P. Bivand
Working Brief, issue 165, June 2005, p.19-22
Discusses how welfare to work programmes can help achieve high levels of employment without inflationary consequences. Welfare-to-work programmes, combined with tax credits, encourage unemployed people to enter the labour market. This enables employers to fill vacancies without raising wages.