Welfare to Work Convention

30 June 2011 - 01 July 2011

European Social Fund 2011 – 2013(England)Provision for families with multiple problems

Aims of this session

• set out DWP’s high level strategy for European Social Fund (ESF) support for families with multiple problems in England;

• put ESF family support into the context of the wider government agenda;

• explore the opportunities and challenges that ESF will offer Framework Providers; and

• explain the importance of Local Authority engagement in securing access to families with multiple problems and ensuring provision meets local needs.

3 Department for Work and Pensions

Families with multiple problems are a priority for this government.

• Prime Ministers commitment

• Complex needs and worst outcomes

• Across Government, we are introducing measures to support these families;

– Community Budgets;

– Working Families Everywhere; and

– European Social Fund (ESF) provision for families with multiple problems.

The Families Agenda

4 Department for Work and Pensions

ESF provision

• employment focussed provision

• supported through European Social Fund (ESF).

5 Department for Work and Pensions

ESF support for families with multiple problems

• Eligibility

• moving participants closer to the labour market:

– progress measures;

– job outcomes.

6 Department for Work and Pensions

DWP engagement

• Close cross government working;

• Local Authorities and Local Government Group;

• engagement events, call for evidence

• engaged with Chief Executives

7 Department for Work and Pensions

The role of Local Authorities

• primary route to identify families;

• LAs already working with families with multiple problems;

8 Department for Work and Pensions

Providers and Local Authorities

– must not duplicate what is available locally;

– Providers will need to work with Local Authorities

– need to jointly agree processes

– DWP will encourage and support contact between providers and Local Authorities

9 Department for Work and Pensions

Community Budgets

• Community Budgets now up and running in 16 areas.

• Money can be pooled;

• ESF funding will not be pooled into Community Budgets.

10 Department for Work and Pensions

Working Families Everywhere

• Working Families Everywhere (WFE) is a national campaign to help individuals in families with a history of worklessness move into employment.

11 Department for Work and Pensions

ESF provision

• Around £270m ESF funding is available to DWP for the period 2011-13

• let through the DWP Framework for the Provision of Employment Related Services.

• limited to England.

12 Department for Work and Pensions

Commercial process

• Invitation to Tender issued to Framework Providers

• Contracts will be awarded by the end of October.

• One Framework Provider in each of the 12 Contract Package Areas

• We expect provision to go live around the end of the year.

13 Department for Work and Pensions

Questions

• Any questions?