Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Footprint for European Social Fund (ESF) Delivery. Update - September 2014

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1 Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Footprint for European Social Fund (ESF) Delivery Update - September 2014 Background The DfES Footprint for ESF Delivery document outlines the Department s approach to ESF and provides a map of youth and adult employment and skills provision across Wales, highlighting relevant links with the ESF Programmes. The objectives of the document are to: guide project development activity; encourage collaborative working; reduce duplication and competition; identify gaps in provision; encourage the use of Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) in the design and development of projects. The original Footprint document was published in May 2014 in partnership with the Wales European Funding Office (WEFO) and can be viewed on the Welsh Government website at This update is the first in a series of quarterly updates providing stakeholders with up to date information on youth and adult, employment and skills provision across Wales The Footprint document and update reports do not replace guidance documents published by WEFO but are intended to add value to the project development process for organisations seeking to access ESF. September 2014 Update Annex 1 provides a summary of key, strategic projects that are currently running or are in various stages of development. These are mapped against: The draft ESF Programme Priorities, where relevant; and The Skills Progression Routeway. The table is colour coded to highlight those projects that are: Currently being delivered without ESF Currently being delivered with ESF from the ESF Programmes Currently being delivered with an application for ESF in development In development without ESF application Annex 2 provides details on each of the projects summarised in Annex 1. Annex 3 sets out how current and planned Welsh Government provision links to the Skills Implementation Plan. It describes how three Regional Skills Partnerships will 1

2 be formally acknowledged by the Welsh Government in October 2014 to support regional skills delivery. A further update to the Footprint will be published in December This will include an update on national projects along with information on key regional and local projects currently being developed. It is important to note that information on those projects in development phase is subject to change and all ESF proposals are subject to WEFO appraisal processes. 2

3 Annex 1: Youth and Adult Employment and Skills Provision Skills Progression Routeway Stage 1: Engagement Stage 2: Pre-employment Not Work Ready Stage 3: Pre-employment Work Ready National Provision Regional Provision Local Provision Link to ESF Operational Programme Priorities Welsh Government Other South West Wales and the Valleys East Wales P1 P2 P3 P1 P2 P3 Activate Lift Out-of-Work Peer Mentoring Service Skills Gateway Lift Out-of-Work Peer Mentoring Service Skills for Employment Wales Skills Gateway Traineeships Traineeships Work Ready Access to Work Jobcentre Plus Support Contract Want to Work Work Choice Work Programme Jobs Growth Wales Jobs Growth Wales II TBC Out-of-Work Peer Mentoring Service React III Skills for Employment Wales 3

4 Skills Progression Routeway Stage 4: In Work Support Stage 5: Continuing Skills Development National Provision Regional Provision Local Provision Link to ESF Operational Programme Priorities Welsh Government Other South West Wales and the Valleys East Wales P1 P2 P3 P1 P2 P3 Skills Gateway Work Ready Access to Work Jobcentre Plus Support Contract Want to Work Work Choice Work Programme Apprenticeships Apprenticeships Essential Skills in the Workplace II Flexible Skills Programme In Work Support Lift Skills Gateway Skills Priorities Programme Flexible Skills Programme Skills Gateway Skills Priorities Programme Access to Work Work Choice Work Programme 4

5 Annex 2: Project Details Access to Work Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)/ Jobcentre Plus This programme assists disabled people who are in paid employment by providing practical support with overcoming work related obstacles from disability. There is an employer cost share involved in some cases. Access to Work funding encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people by offering practical financial help towards the additional cost of employing a disabled person. Disabled people who are employed, self employed or applying for or starting a job or Work Trial can be eligible for Access to Work help. Current provision Currently being delivered without ESF John Beasley john.beasley1@dwp.gsi.gov.uk Activate The project will complement and support additional activity to existing Careers and the World of Work delivery in schools and colleges, focusing on bringing more employers together with schools and colleges. This will provide opportunities for young people to develop the right attributes, skills and qualities required to be successful in the world of work and increase youth engagement and attainment by supporting an enhanced curriculum offer to those young people that are identified as at risk of becoming disengaged. Spring Natalie Sawkins Natalie.Sawkins@wales.gsi.gov.uk Apprenticeships (Current project) The project supports Apprenticeships (level 3) and Foundation Apprenticeships (level 2) for employed learners who follow an Apprenticeship framework. All Apprenticeships include: an appropriate competency qualification to at least Level 2 of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF); Essential Skills Wales qualifications, e.g. communications, application of number and an optional information and communication technology (ICT); a technical qualification such as a BTEC or City & Guilds (relevant to the specific Apprenticeship); and other qualifications or requirements as specified by the particular occupation. 5

6 End date: March New Apprenticeships project in development Currently being delivered with ESF from the ESF Programmes Apprenticeships The new Apprenticeships project will be based on the current programme. The project aims to increase the number of apprentices who successfully undertake job related learning and in doing so raise the attractiveness, awareness of and availability of apprenticeships. Apprenticeships are a mechanism for improving employability and skills of individuals, which in turn improves productivity and provides economic value. Proposed start date: April 2015 askwbl@wales.gsi.gov.uk Essential Skills in the Workplace II The aim of the Essential Skills in the Workplace (ESIW) project is to raise the levels of essential skills in the employed workforce in Wales through increased and enhanced essential skills support within the workplace. Working in partnership with employers, the project will raise awareness of the benefits of a skilled workforce and will provide support and guidance to address identified basic skills needs gaps. July June 2016 Currently being delivered with an ESF application in development Scott Morgan Scott.Morgan@wales.gsi.gov.uk / Victoria Pettican Victoria.petican@wales.gsi.gov.uk Flexible Skills Programme The Flexible Skills Programme (FSP) will be aimed at delivering on the skills and employment needs of companies of strategic importance where needs cannot be met through other existing provision or where there is a clear case for Welsh Government intervention. TBC 6

7 Nigel Arnold In-Work Support Department for Health and Social Services (DHSS), Welsh Government The proposed In-Work Support project is a key element of the Department for Health & Social Service s strategic programme bid Together for a Healthy Working Wales, which intends to deliver a joined-up approach to tackling poverty and social exclusion through sustainable employment. The project focuses on helping employees with work limiting health conditions, disabilities or substance misuse problems to stay and progress in work. The key, strategic objectives are to: Reduce the flow of people out of work and on to benefits due to ill-health; Reduce the duration of periods of sickness absence due to common health issues, primarily musculoskeletal disorders and mental health problems; Engage and support employers to improve policies around workplace health; Engage and support GPs around work and health issues. Proposed start date: April Matt Downton Matt.Downton@wales.gsi.gov.uk Jobcentre Plus Support Contract (JCPSP) Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)/ Jobcentre Plus This programme delivers provision for Jobcentre Plus customers prior to entry to the Work Programme including lone parents, partners and carers through voluntary work preparation support. All Jobcentre Plus customers are eligible to access the JCPSC but the primary consideration for all advisers is to select the most suitable provision based on the customer s needs. The JCPSC consists of two main elements which are then offered on a module basis: Improving Job Search: o Realistic Jobs for Me; o Doing Effective Job Search; o Finding and Getting Jobs; o Skills for Work; o Job Search Support Centre: Getting Ready for Work: o Vocational training; o Launch Pad; 7

8 o Keeping the Job. Current provision Currently being delivered without ESF Huw Thomas Jobs Growth Wales (Current project) The project will provide young people aged with a paid work experience opportunity for a 6 month period. The programme will cater for those that are job ready but have had difficulty securing employment. It will also provide a more supportive environment for those who need it, to access and make the most of this opportunity to help them progress into sustainable employment. It will provide the work experience valued so highly by employers which so many young people, of differing skills and abilities, find the most significant barrier to securing that first step into employment. Proposed end date for new applicants: March New Jobs Growth Wales II project in development. Currently being delivered with ESF from the ESF Programmes Heather Davidson heather.davidson@wales.gsi.gov.uk Jobs Growth Wales II The programme will be based on the original Jobs Growth Wales project and will be aimed at unemployed young people aged It will provide valuable work experience for a 6 month period paid at, or above, the National Minimum Wage for between 25 and 40 hours per week. April Heather Davidson Heather.Davidson@wales.gsi.gov.uk Lift Department for Local Government and Communities (LGC), Welsh Government The Programme supports the Welsh Government s Tackling Poverty agenda and aims to provide 5,000 training and employment opportunities for people living in households where no-one is in work by December The Programme is not aimed at those who are temporarily out of work, but focuses on those who have spent more than six months out of 8

9 work and who face the greatest barriers to becoming employable, such as: young, single parent households; households in which the adults have few or no formal qualifications; people with weak employment records; and disabled people. Research shows that households with these characteristics are much less likely to gain employment than others. The Programme seeks to learn over time what works well and what is less successful. Experience gained will inform wider efforts to reduce the number of workless households in Wales. Lift is part of the Welsh Government s Tackling Poverty Action Plan. End date: December 2017 Currently being delivered without ESF Peter Stalder (Peter.stalder@wales.gsi.gov.uk Out-of-Work Peer Mentoring Service Department for Health and Social Services (DHSS), Welsh Government The main aim is to provide holistic support to people in the NEET category with substance misuse (SMU) and/or mental health (MH) issues with a focus of attaining sustainable employment. The programme is part of the Welsh Government s Together for a Healthy Working Wales strategic programme and will include a suite of projects which is being developed under the ESF Programmes as follows: Together for a Healthy Working Wales Strategic Programme Out-of-Work Service (OOWS) Projects Out-of-Work Service (OOWS) Projects In-Work OOWS Project for People aged OOWS Project for People aged 25+ OOWS Project for People aged OOWS Project for People aged 25+ Support (IWSS) SMU provision MH provision SMU provision MH provision SMU provision MH provision SMU provision MH provision Project ESF Operational Programme for East Wales ESF Operational Programme for West Wales and the Valleys The project will complement a range of other Welsh Government interventions including the proposed In-Work Support Service, Communities First, the LIFT programme, and Jobs Growth Wales. The project is not a general skills / employment intervention but focuses on specific needs (including specific health needs) of unemployed people with substance misuse and/or mental health issues for whom generic skills/employment interventions are not suitable. July / August Gez Martin Gez.Martin@wales.gsi.gov.uk 9

10 ReAct III The Welsh Government s ReAct III programme is designed to complement and supplement the service offered to redundant workers by Jobcentre Plus and Careers Wales. ReAct III aims to address the needs of people who have been made redundant, or are under notice of redundancy, through a series of measures designed to remove barriers to obtaining new employment. ReAct III targets four key areas where assistance may be required in order for a redundant worker to gain new employment. Two are aimed at providing prospective employers with incentives and assistance to employ a redundant worker, whilst two are aimed at updating the skills of a redundant worker and removing barriers to training and employment Start Date: July Currently being delivered with an ESF application in development Nigel Arnold Nigel.Arnold@wales.gsi.gov.uk Skills for Employment Wales DfES officials are currently working on the design and development of a new adult skills programme for Wales Skills for Employment Wales, which is being developed using evidence and research gathered as part of an evaluation of adult provision. Work Ready, the interim adult skills programme is operating via the Work Based Learning network of training providers until 31 August This programme supports individuals progress from non-employment into employment and the provision consists of two elements (Learning for Work and Routeways). Individuals are referred onto the Programme by Jobcentre Plus (JCP) and entry to the most appropriate route to meet each learner s needs is determined through the Work Based Learning provider s own assessment process. September (TBC) Rae Cornish Rae.Cornish@wales.gsi.gov.uk Skills Gateway Skills Gateway is a project within the Employment and Skills Delivery Programme, which was developed to provide a strategic approach to the delivery of employment and skills support for both individuals and businesses. The Skills Gateway project involves the design, development and implementation of an Online Skills Needs Identification facility 10

11 which will be hosted on the DfES microsite located in DEST Business Wales website. This facility will enable all businesses in Wales to undertake a skills & training needs assessment if applicable, or discuss their skills needs with a business advisor. The online skill assessment will be made up of a range of questions, which once submitted will help a business to identify any potential skill gaps and ensure they know how to access the right training to meet their needs. Start Date: October 2014 In development without ESF application Joel Morgan Joel.Morgan@wales.gsi.gov.uk Skills Priorities Programme The Skills Priorities Programme (SPP) operation will focus on the vital role of Further Education in responding quickly to employer demand for relevant skills provision for employed individuals over the age of 19. SPP will provide targeted skills interventions where employer needs could not be met through traditional part-time delivery routes. SPP will focus on relevant, versatile, industry-led skills solutions however, it will align to the complimentary Innovation strands of the Flexible Skills Programme and A4B ERDF Programme. September Phil Tristram Phil.Tristram@wales.gsi.gov.uk Traineeships (Current project) Traineeships are aimed at young people aged between 16 to 18 years old, in Wales. The programme gives young people the skills needed to get a job or progress to further learning at a higher level, such as an apprenticeship or further education. Participation on the Traineeships programme is available at three distinct levels. This ensures that individual learners get the support and encouragement needed to help them to progress. Traineeships are not time-bound, but are based on the needs of each individual learner. Traineeships also support each individual learner by providing an allowance. Careers Wales staff play a major role in referring young people to Traineeships. End date: March New Traineeships project in development Currently being delivered with ESF from the ESF Programmes askwbl@wales.gsi.gov.uk 11

12 Traineeships Traineeships will deliver a flagship all-wales programme of engagement and level 1 training to young people aged 18 and under who have left compulsory education. This cohort group (just leaving school and not continuing an academic route nor able to take up employment or ready for an apprenticeship) are vulnerable to becoming NEET status and risk long term unemployment. Without the programme they would otherwise be NEET. This programme seeks to intervene early ensuring they get a chance to acquire work skills and get a good start in working life, sample work options and opportunities, and find job opportunities or other appropriate further training. Proposed start date: April 2015 askwbl@wales.gsi.gov.uk Want to Work Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)/ Jobcentre Plus This project is delivered in certain disadvantaged wards across Wales. It aims to engage economically inactive people not usually engaging with mainstream support, helping them move closer to and into work. Key activities include: engaging people in their own communities and developing personalised back to work plans; developing pre-employment skills e.g. soft skills, volunteering, community activity, health & well being, work trials/work experience; financial support for flexible learning/training linked to local/wider job/sector opportunities; and strong local partnerships providing gateways to mainstream programmes/other back to work support. The project is targeted at economically inactive people e.g. claimants of Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Income Support Lone Parents and non-benefit recipients. Start date: 1 July 2008 Proposed end date: 30 June 2015 Currently being delivered with ESF Howard Reed howard.reed@dwp.gsi.gov.uk Work Choice Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)/ Jobcentre Plus This programme provides a voluntary, tailored, coherent range of specialist employment services which can respond more flexibly to the individual needs of disabled people and their employers and make better use of resources. To be eligible, a customer/claimant must be of working age, resident in the UK and disabled as defined by the Equality Act 12

13 2010. The programme is structured around three modules: Work entry support; Short to medium term in-work support; and Longer term in-work support Current provision Currently being delivered without ESF Julie Griffiths Work Programme Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) / Jobcentre Plus This programme provides personalised support for claimants who need more help looking for and staying in work. Service providers have freedom to decide how best to support Work Programme participants while meeting minimum standards for delivering the service. The Work Programme is mandatory for Job Seeker Allowance (JSA) claimants who are and have been in receipt of JSA for 9 months, or 12 months for those aged 25+ and those claiming Employment Support Allowance and are within the Work Related Activity Group Current provision Currently being delivered without ESF Julie Griffiths Julie.griffiths@dwp.gsi.gov.uk Work Ready Work Ready provides supports to move individuals into employment. It consists of two elements: Learning for Work; and Routeways. Individuals are referred onto the programme by Jobcentre Plus (JCP) and entry to the most appropriate route to meet each learner s needs is determined through the Work Based Learning provider s own assessment process. Learning for Work is a part-time course that runs for a maximum of 24 weeks. It supports individuals with basic skills and confidence building and includes involvement in community projects and voluntary work. Routeways is a full-time course that runs for a maximum of 10 working days. It provides relevant training to enable individuals to start working and start earning. End date: August New Skills for Employment Wales Project in development Currently being delivered via the World Class Apprenticeships project Rae Cornish Rae.cornish@wales.gsi.gov.uk 13

14 Annex 3: Skills Implementation Plan The Welsh Government s Skills Implementation Plan sets out the actions required to develop a sustainable skills system in Wales capable of responding to an increasingly global market for skills, and prepare the ground for conditions beyond the next round of European Funding. These actions focus on: Skills for jobs and growth Focusing on higher levels of skills development across the workforce, ensuring that vocational routes are valued and supporting employers to work collectively in responding to their skills needs Skills that respond to local needs Providing an integrated, streamlined and accessible skills and employment offer for individuals and employers and devolving responsibility to delivery partners to develop flexible responses based upon the needs within local communities Skills that employers value Working with employers to develop adult vocational qualifications and apprenticeship frameworks and supporting them to fully utilise the skills of their workforce through developing a culture of high performance working and investment in skills alongside government Skills for employment Supporting individuals to enter employment through access to skills information and work experience opportunities and aspiring that all working adults have a minimum level of literacy, numeracy and ICT skills to support their career progression The Skills implementation Plan also sets out our approach to regional skills delivery, whereby three Regional Skills Partnerships will be formally acknowledged in October 2014, which we expect will: 14

15 Produce and analyse LMI aligned to economic intelligence to inform the skills requirements in the regions and inform our future priorities for funding linked to our co-investment policy. Provide a mechanism to review regional skills provision and advise the Welsh Government on future prioritisation of skills funding in line with regional employment and skills needs. Act as strategic bodies, effectively representing regional interests to inform a demand-led and sustainable skills system, ensuring that this is informed by strong industry engagement and takes into account the level of skills utilisation in the region. Act collectively and strategically to maximise future available funds acknowledging the likely reduction in public funds over the coming years. The table below highlights where Welsh Government provision supports these actions and goals. Project details can be found in Annex 2. Skills for Jobs and Growth Flexible Skills Programme Skills that Respond to Local Needs Skills Gateway Skills that Employers Value Apprenticeships Activate Skills for Employment Skills Priorities Programme Essential Skills in the Workplace Jobs Growth Wales Lift ReAct Skills for Employment Wales Skills Gateway Traineeships Work Ready 15

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