St Mungo’s

Workwise 6 Month Report

Lambeth Housing

tenants affected by Welfare Reform

01 May to

31 October 2016

Authors Yusuf Pickstock, Roger Hamilton Linda Oginni (Lambeth Council) Title Workwise 6 Month Report 1st May - 31st October 2016

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CONTENTS PAGE

1. Project Summary 3-4

2. The Challenge 4-5

3. Analysis of data 5-6

3.1 Cohort 6

3.2 Demographics 7

3.3 Unemployment Profile 8

4. Profile of jobs gained 9-11

5. Volunteering 12-13

6. Workwise HACT Social Impact Valuation Statement 14-15

7. Workshops 15-16

8. RollOnMondays 16

8.1 Yolanda’s Interview 17-18

8.2 Derek’s Story 18-20

9. St Mungo’s Skills and Employment 20-21

10. Case Studies 21-22

11. Resident Engagement Team 22

12. Lambeth Working and JCP Lambeth 22-23

13. External partnership work 23

14. Young people 24

15. Local partnerships 24-25

16. Progression Fund 25

17. Digital Inclusion 26

18. Health 26

19. Foodbank 26

20. SHP, Centre 70 and Lambeth Money Champions 27

21. Tenancy Sustainment 27

22. The team 27

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Project Summary

The Workwise service is a partnership between Lambeth Housing Services and St

Mungo’s. It is an employment, training and advice project that supports Lambeth

tenants who are affected by the impact of Welfare Reform and are therefore at risk of

losing their tenancies and becoming homeless. Workwise provides tailored support to

equip tenants with the skills, knowledge and confidence to get into work or move closer

to employment, thereby helping to manage the shortfall in rent/housing benefit and

sustain their tenancies.

Workwise is co-located within the Welfare Reform team at Lambeth who look for

innovative ways to help tenants meet their rent payments. Workwise is seen as a

solution to help tenants back into work. The team has a range of other solutions

available to assist tenants including mutual exchange, downsizing, and a lodger

scheme. In addition, supporting more vulnerable tenants with discretionary housing

payments. The team also works very closely with Centre 70, a local charity who provide

tenants with debt advice and support with utilities and grants.

Tenants are made aware of the steps which can be taken to mitigate the impact of

changes to their welfare benefit. Those impacted by welfare reform are assessed to

determine sources of assistance required and directed to appropriate support. The

Welfare Solutions Team effectively achieve this, producing a responsive approach to

supporting these households by tailoring their offer to tenants in order to make

attempts to mitigate the impact of benefit cuts. In 2015-16 Workwise focused on

supporting tenants affected by the size criteria (Bedroom Tax). In 2016-17 the scope

of the project was expanded to additionally work with tenants affected by the

implementation of Universal Credit and the total benefit cap.

It was identified that the majority of Welfare Reform affected households have

experienced long-term unemployment and require significant support to successfully

prepare them to be ready for the labour market.

Funding for the service has been provided for 1 year via the Department of Work and

Pension’s Flexible Support Fund Grant. This commenced on 1st May 2016 and is

scheduled to end on 30th April 2017.

The Workwise team have reviewed the 1st year of delivery and carried lessons learnt

into year 2. The staff have embedded into the welfare reform team and gained an in

depth understanding of available welfare solutions. They have liaised and shared case

management with officers to support tenants with their options whilst holding a primary

focus on employment. Lambeth Housing Services have made this process seamless

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by not only providing excellent data and liaison but also match funding a dedicated

employment officer to Workwise who has been an essential conduit to referrals. The

officer has provided detailed reports to enable targeting of eligible tenants for support.

In addition they have provided a progression fund of £10,000 to aid in supporting

tenants with essential costs in finding and sustaining employment.

In the initial stages primary focus was on working with tenants in receipt of Job Seekers

Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance and more recently Universal Credit.

Other priorities have been tenants affected by the benefit cap, many of whom are in

receipt of Income Support. However, these tenants have proved to have more complex

needs and have generally been further away from returning to the labour market. Many

have been families and single parents who are otherwise not required to seek work –

because of caring responsibilities, sickness or disability.

By far the greatest achievement of the partnership in the second year has been to

maintain 100% tenancy sustainment by all tenants accessing the Workwise project.

Many have had eviction panels and attended court to make agreements to address

their rent arrears. Workwise staff coming from St Mungo’s, a homeless charity

understand and reinforce the importance of tenancy sustainment. The team have felt

privileged to work with tenants on a homeless prevention project, all of whom have

previously worked with clients post eviction on employability contracts.

Prior to the under occupancy charge, Universal Credit and total benefit cap, many

tenants were able to survive on welfare payments. However, with deductions in

housing benefit for these cohorts and payment delays for Universal Credit claimants,

this has now proved simply unsustainable. Workwise provides a reality check and has

proved a genuine motivator for tenants to strive for employment as the only long term

option to mitigate their circumstances and maintain their tenancy.

The challenge

As an Employment specialist team, Workwise continue to support clients but often

have to challenge expectations to enable them to move closer to the employment

market.

Key areas we tackle:-

Lack of motivation to engage regularly with the service

Lack of understanding of the employment market

Low levels of confidence leading to low initiative to contact the team to ask for

help when needed e.g. interview secured

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Self-awareness of personal barriers to employment

Poor IT skills, literacy and numeracy needs and low desire to improve these

Attendance and timekeeping

Poor communications skills in general

Poor diary management and general organisational/planning skills e.g.

looking up google maps to get to a new destination for interviews or

appointments

Limited understanding of what employers want and need

Ability to read and understand job specifications and apply themselves when

completing job applications

Generic CV’s

Negative attitudes towards employers and employment related services

Unrealistic salary expectations

Analysis of data

Workwise initially aimed to work with 150 tenants over the duration of the 2016/17

contract. However demand for employment support by tenants has been high and the

team had already engaged with 131 tenants by 31st October 2016.

40 / 31% of tenants were from North of the borough, 36 / 27% were from South and 38

/ 29% Central Lambeth. This represents an even spread of referrals and engagement

across the borough. 11 / 8% of tenants were from tenant management organisations,

which are not directly managed by Lambeth Housing Services.

A total of 194 one to one sessions were attended by 131 tenants over the 6 month

period. These were sessions held by one of the dedicated Work Co-ordinators, who

help clients to move towards their work and learning aims. The discussions centre on

both long term goals (dream jobs) and short term (work to help with their current

financial situation).

193 work- focused sessions have been attended, which are designed to provide

support with CV preparation and review, interview techniques, application forms,

presentations or other work-focused activities. The coordinators use coaching and

motivational interviewing techniques to empower clients to work towards their own

goals.

33 tenants were recorded as undertaking foundation skills sessions. These were single

sessions and workshops that support clients back in to work. Examples of these have

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been in work benefit and better off calculations, sessions attended at the St Mungo’s

Recovery College, meaningful use of time and some non-accredited training courses.

65 tenants were recorded as having attended basic skills sessions and workshops that

support them with their ICT, literacy or numeracy skills.

209 referrals were made by the team to employment, education, volunteering or advice

opportunities. This resulted in the following outcomes:

65 tenants securing full-time work

7 securing part-time work

72 tenants receiving in work support

6 work placements gained

36 places gained on education and training courses

23 qualifications recorded as achieved so far

28 volunteering positions gained

Cohort

During 2016-17 the Workwise team has reported on performance by cohort and looked

at trends in Case Classification. The team carried in 53 legacy cases to year 2, 35 of

whom were affected by the bedroom tax. This is the largest Welfare reform cohort in

Lambeth and goes some way to explain why 87 / 66% of tenants were from this group.

Other legacy cases include 6 Universal Credit previously on JSA and 12 benefit

capped households from both social housing and the private rented sector, previously

seen by St Mungo’s under the Lambeth Tenancy Rescue project. The team has found

some similarities and major differences with benefit capped cases within the private

rented and social housing sectors. The similarity is that 90% of all benefit capped cases

seen were single parents with dependent children. The reason for benefits being

capped in PRS is mainly due to high rents set by private landlords. Within social

housing, the main cap reason is child tax credit for dependent children. Workwise

would like to undertake further specific work with a larger cohort of capped clients

should resources become available.

Case Classification Cohort Percentage

Bedroom Tax 87 66%

Universal Credit 23 18%

SH Benefit Cap 15 11%

PRS Benefit Cap 6 5%

Total 131 100%

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Demographics

Of the 131 tenants engaged with by Workwise there has been a ratio of male 41 / 31%

to female 90 / 63%.

Age range

The majority age range of referrals to Workwise were tenants aged 51-65 (66%) in

2015-16. However, with the introduction of Universal Credit and Benefit Cap referrals,

the age range has shifted in year 2. 61 tenants or 46% are aged 51 to pension credit

age in 2016-17. Within the Universal Credit cohort Workwise are seeing tenants aged

18-24 for the first time, whereas this cohort were tenants dependants in the first year.

Detailed Age Grouping Number of Clients

Percentage of Clients

20 - 24 5 4%

25 - 29 6 5%

30 - 34 5 4%

35 - 39 18 14%

40 - 44 14 11%

45 - 49 16 12%

50 - 54 33 25%

55 - 59 19 15%

60 - 64 15 11%

Ethnicity

Ethnic Origin Number of Clients

Percentage of Clients

White: Other 4 3%

Black or Black British: Other 3 2%

White: British 19 15%

Black or Black British: African 22 17%

Black or Black British: Caribbean

58 44%

Mixed: Other 5 4%

Mixed: White & Black Caribbean

7 5%

White: Irish 2 2%

Asian or Asian British: Other 1 1%

Client does not wish to disclose

3 2%

Mixed: White & Black African 1 1%

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Asian or Asian British: Pakistani

1 1%

Asian or Asian British: Indian 1 1%

Other ethnic group 1 1%

Unknown 3 2%

Declaration of criminal convictions

From initial discussions and recording at enrolment it was established that 14 / 11% of

the cohort have self-declared criminal convictions. 9 / 14 of the cohort 64% gained

employment with the first 6 months of 2016-17 and felt this was not a barrier in

returning to the workplace.

Jobs by Offending history

Jobs achieved 9

Cohort 14

64%

Unemployment Profile

Length of unemployment at point of registration:

Length of unemployment Cohort Percentage

0-6 months 34 26%

7-12 months 22 17%

13-23 months 12 9%

24-35 months 13 10%

36+ months 50 38%

Total 131

Benefit type at the point of registration:

Benefit Type Number of Clients

Percentage of Clients

Jobseekers Allowance 77 58%

Universal Credit 23 18%

Employment and Support Allowance

9 7%

Income Support 19 15%

No eligible benefit 3 7%

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Profile of jobs gained

Workwise participants have worked hard to achieve matches to their aspirations and

shown immense tenacity to achieve jobs in what has proved to be a competitive

employers market. In reporting jobs, the Workwise team has broken down the reporting

of weekly hours worked into 30+, 16-29, 8-15 and under 8 hours. The team recorded

72 job entries over the period 01/05/16-31/10/16 (6 months).

It is generally seen that although clients may have achieved a job outcome, those

working under 16 hours a week will not necessarily sign off Jobseekers allowance or

their eligible benefit. For the purpose of the Flexible Support fund Grant for Workwise,

these positions are seen more as added value rather than as a validated outcome.

Tenants are made aware that if they undertake work and still claim JSA, they must

declare their weekly hours of work to their DWP advisor on their signing day.

Workwise has witnessed instances where clients have built up their hours in multiple

part-time jobs in order to move away from claiming Jobseekers allowance or

Employment and Support Allowance.

Jobs gained by case classification

Jobs by Case Classification Jobs Cohort Percentage

Bedroom Tax 52 87 60%

Universal Credit 11 23 48%

Social Housing Benefit Cap 5 15 33%

PRS Benefit Cap 4 6 67%

Total 72

Workwise has significant experience in Working with Bedroom Tax cases from its first

year of delivery. At the half way stage of 2016/17 60% of this large cohort have gained

employment through interventions from the team. 48% of Universal Credit claimants

have gained jobs in the same period. The cohorts for benefit cap are relatively low

overall, but there is evidence that progress is being made in engaging with these

groups.

Jobs gained by hours

Jobs by hours worked per week Employment (30hrs or more/week) 42 Employment (16-29/week) 18 Employment (8-15 hrs/weeks) 4 Employment (less than 8 hrs/week) 3 Client registered as self employed 5

Total 72

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Jobs achieved by sector

Jobs gained 30+ hrs per week Self-Employment

Administration x10 Construction x2

Social Care x8 Nursing x1

Construction x9 Tailoring x1

Retail x4 Party Planner x1

Maintenance x3 Jobs Gained 8-15hrs per week

Domestic Cleaning x1 Domestic Cleaner x1

Catering x1 Retail x1

Hotel Work x2 Social Care x1

Pharmaceutical x2 Courier x1

Childcare x1 Jobs Gained 0-8hrs per week

Driver x1 Catering x1

Jobs Gained 16-29hrs per week Casual Stewards x2

Courier x1

Teaching Asst x1

Social Care x9

Retail x7

Jobs achieved by length of unemployment

Length of unemployment Jobs Percentage

0-6 months 25 35%

7-12 months 14 19%

13-23 months 6 8%

24-35 months 8 11%

36+ months 19 26%

Total 72

The analysis demonstrates that 54% of jobs achieved were by tenants who were

unemployed for less than 1 year. This is no surprise to the team, as recent work history

is more appealing to potential employers. Naturally the longer a tenant is out of work

the more isolated and generally less confident they become about returning to the

labour market. However, equally Workwise can evidence that an impact has been

made with those that have been unemployed in the longer term. 37% of jobs were

achieved by tenants who have been unemployed for 2 years or more. Within the 36

months + cohort, evidence shows that a number were previously out of the labour

market for up to 10 years.

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Jobs achieved by benefits type

Jobs by Benefit type Jobs Percentage

Jobseekers Allowance 48 67%

Employment Support Allowance 5 7%

Income Support 5 7%

Universal Credit 11 15%

Other benefits 3 4%

Total 72 100%

Jobs Achieved by Legacy Cases

Jobs by Legacy case Yes No Total

Total Jobs 38 34 72

Total clients 53 78 131

Jobs as percentage of cohort 71% 43%

Employment Sustainment

Whilst sustained employment was not a KPI in the original submission, it was

recognised that the team needed to evaluate the job entries achieved and measure

whether the cohort achieved sustainable employment. This is an ongoing exercise at

the time of the current evaluation, but some key themes were highlighted.

65 out 72 or 90% of the jobs achieved were still active at the 6 month stage of 2016/17.

From our experience of working with Lambeth tenants, reasons for jobs ending have

included:

Temporary contract ended

Not passing probation period / early termination

Travel cost / hours available

Zero hours contracts, not guaranteed hours

ID issues

Sickness

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Volunteering

Central to the success of Workwise, has been the close working relationship with the

Welfare Solutions team members; to identify clients and set up strategy and processes

to help get the best possible outcomes.

GET SET GO

The Welfare Solutions Team designed the Get Set GO volunteering programme in

partnership with the Lambeth Estate Pride team. This is a 3-6 month programme where

tenants who are welfare reform affected have the opportunity to take part in in

volunteering work within their local community. 28 Workwise participants gained

volunteering outcomes through this project. They volunteer their time to undertake

community volunteering for Lambeth and in return receive support with their spare

room subsidy shortfall – this experience has had a really positive impact on the clients’

finances and tenancy management as well as providing them with great work

experience, new skills and an up to date reference.

Get Set Go currently covers:

Resident Surveys - Volunteers work outdoors in pairs on a selection of estates

surveying fellow residents face to face about various community issues. The results

are used to help shape Lambeth Housing Services future housing Services. Volunteers

gain experience in; conducting surveys, dealing with the public in a customer service

role, capturing information and gaining an insight into community engagement

alongside area Housing officers.

Estate Inspections – Volunteers help across a variety of estates being mentored by

staff from Area offices and playing a key role in helping to deliver housing services to

fellow residents. Volunteers gain experience with reporting, dealing with contractors,

writing repair requests, communicating with fellow residents, understanding how the

housing sector works and problem solving.

Business Admin Support - providing support and assistance in basic areas of work

undertaken by the housing department – including assisting on various projects.

The Get Set Go programme also offers comprehensive training and employability

support to the participating clients. 7 tenants from this cohort are currently completing

Community into Housing qualification at Level 2, facilitated by High Trees Community

Development Trust.

In addition, the Employability Project Officer has been building key new connections

with employers, contractors and other council departments.

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External volunteering

Lambeth Volunteer Centre – the Work Coordinators have established a link with

the Good Practice Manager at Lambeth Volunteer Centre who we hope to work

with more closely going forward to provide opportunities for our clients. We

currently refer clients to the drop in sessions at LVC. We also use Do-it.org, Team

London, and WWV to help clients find interesting and relevant volunteering

opportunities for them. We discuss the great benefits of volunteering with our

clients – it can be a real platform to paid employment providing hands on

experience, a reference, new skills and new networks and a great way to fill a gap

on a CV for the long term unemployed – not to mention the sense of wellbeing it

engenders for those who find a volunteering opportunity they love.

A number of tenants have gained voluntary positions within local schools as

classroom assistants, after school clubs and lunchtime supervisors. There is a

hope that some of these will become paid positions.

6 Workwise participants have gained volunteering opportunities within St Mungo’s.

Some have supported reception and the Recovery College at Rushworth St and

others have been supporting staff at hostels, wellbeing and support projects.

We’ve also formed a connection with the local group ‘Community Support’ who

provided a local internship opportunity with social enterprise Global Justice.

Workwise 2016/17 HACT Social Value Calculation based on 6 months delivery from 01/05/16-31/10/16

Budget : social impact Net benefit

£ 73,858 £ 1,612,766 1 : 21.84 1,538,908£

73,858£ 1,612,766£ 1 : 21.84 1,538,908£

Overall budget Overall social impact

Analysis of benefit

Age

unknown

Under

2525-49 50+

No. with

unknown

results

£ 73,858.00 ♦ Full-time employmentRecord of individuals moving from unemployment into FT

employmentEmployment survey London 14,433£ 2 30 28 933,064£ 793,104£

♦ Self-employmentRecord of individuals moving from unemployment into self-

employmentEmployment survey London 11,588£ 4 1 60,651£ 51,553£

♦ Part-time employmentRecord of individuals moving from unemployment into PT

employmentEmployment survey London 1,229£ 4 3 13,761£ 11,697£

♦ Vocational training Record of individuals enrolling on specific training Employment survey London 1,124£ 1 16 19 64,734£ 55,024£

♦ Regular volunteering Record of individuals with regular voluntary position Employment survey London 3,249£ 9 19 85,782£ 69,483£

♦ General training for job Record of individuals attending training Employment survey London 1,567£ 4 117 105 560,252£ 476,214£

♦ Employment training Record of individuals attending training Employment survey London 807£ 8 95 91 177,083£ 150,521£

♦ Regular attendance at voluntary or local

organisationRecord of individuals regularly attending group Employment survey London 1,773£ 4 2 6,382£ 5,169£

Average

person valueAnnual budget Associated outcome / value Total value

Which survey? Or is it an

activity value?Evidence you need to apply the value

No. of participants (+ ages)In which

region is this

activity?

Total minus

deadweight

HACT Social Value

Lambeth Housing Services were keen that the social impact of the work undertaken

over the second year of Workwise was evaluated. The value that communities derive

from programme investment can be difficult to quantify, so we worked to develop a set

of financial values which could be attributed to particular interventions based on the

initial budget. The total Workwise budget for 2016/17 equates to £147,716. This

consists of salaries and on costs incurred by St Mungo’s (£87,697) and a match funded

post and on costs incurred by Lambeth Council (£50,019). There is additionally

£10,000 budgeted for the progression fund provided by Lambeth Council. For the

purpose of the 6 month report we have halved the total budget to gain a cost/benefit

ratio at this stage. There has been consistent data collection by the team using St

Mungo’s Opal management information system. Evaluating, and reporting of data has

been key in validating outputs on a weekly and monthly basis. We have used the

Housing Association Charitable Trust’s (HACT) measuring tool in this exercise. There

were many sustainment and wellbeing values that could have been attributed to the

analysis, but due to the limited timescale in writing the evaluation a decision was made

to use the main KPI hard outcomes achieved so far. These were then measured

against the HACT values for London, contained in the Social Value Bank. When

thinking about community value, there was a wish to assess the positive impact that

comes from employability work with Welfare Reform affected tenants. The results

demonstrate a cost/benefit ratio 1:21.84.The results of this statement are being shared

with the Lambeth Resident Engagement Team as part of their community investment

work. The results are also being shared internally with the St Mungo’s Knowledge &

Information project.

Workshops

Workwise recognised that the team needed to develop a series of in-house workshops

at our base in Union Road (Stockwell). The Employment Project officer has led on this

and formed a relationship with Mitie and Breyer Group who are two of Lambeth’s

contractors. They were keen to engage with Workwise and offered support as part of

their community investment initiatives. They allocated staff to help deliver workshops

to Welfare Reform affected tenants. These have included CV workshops, Interview

techniques, and effective job search skills.

In addition the Workwise team have used existing resources available to help residents

up skill themselves to be ready for the job market. These have included digital skills

workshops, using IT, CV Skills, interview techniques and UK Online Centre-Learn My

Way resources.

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The workshops have proved to be a networking hub for tenants to engage with each

other and the team to engage with them on opportunities to improve employability

prospects. In addition the team offer weekly group drop in sessions at Union Road

where tenants can access computers and have support with applying for online jobs.

St Mungo’s RollonMonday programme What is the RollOnMonday programme?

‘RollOnMonday’ is a work-placement programme, offering our most ‘job ready’ clients

paid work-placement opportunities, in various entry-level administration roles, within

law firms.

A brief look back at the programme

Founded in partnership with RollOnFriday, an online community for people working

within the legal sector, the RollOnMonday programme formally launched in January

2014. Through the RollOnFriday network, and with the support of our programme

partner, Osborne Clarke, RollOnMonday offers St Mungo’s clients meaningful work-

placement opportunities within law firms and their associated organisations.

Key benefits for our clients:

- Working alongside a professional and supportive team

- Learning and using a range of transferable skills

- Becoming more confident in their abilities

- Gaining up to six months of paid work experience

Placements in more detail

The RollOnMonday programme works with a range of law firms, which provide entry-

level administration roles across their organisations in various departments, such as:

-Central Services -Facilities -Finance

-Human Resources -Marketing -Events

Each placement is created specifically for St Mungo’s and is only offered to our clients.

Each position is carefully defined and the law firms will provide a job description, so

clients have a clear understanding of the role and know what they can expect to learn

and experience during the placement.

Roll On Monday has provided 7 Workwise participants with placements at a number

of law firms including BPP Law School, DWF LLP, Freshfields LLP, Clifford Chance

LLP, White & Case LLP and Shearman and Sterling LLP. These placements are paid

at the London Living Wage of £9.40 per hour.

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Brixton resident Yolanda is now back in full-time work after engaging with the

RollOnMonday project.

Career history

“I’m working as an administration at a law firm in London. I’ve done admin work before

at Southwark College. I’ve worked as a School Link Officer, and temping as a

receptionist. I’ve also worked in Events and I’d love to have the opportunity to do that

again. They have an Events team here.

Working with Workwise

“In 2014 the bills were piling up and I was feeling a bit demotivated about finding work.

Workwise were great in terms of the contacts they had, the kinds of jobs you don’t see

in the job centre. They do say the best jobs are never advertised. Plus they were great

in terms of support: CV writing, interview techniques, and just having someone who

sees your potential.

Being without a job can make you forget your skills and assets and self-esteem. They

reminded me that I had a lot to offer. When the Workwise team showed me this job I

said ‘I can do that’. My adviser said ‘I know, let’s send your CV. They also helped pay

my travel expenses for the first month until I got paid.

Work experience

“I joined the council’s Get Set Go programme to get some work experience and that

helped build up my self-confidence. We did an audit of pram sheds for the council. It

felt like I was adding value, helping identify where the sheds are and what condition

they’re in. The idea is they can be rented out or used to bring in revenue. Being out

and about, doing something helped make me feel “I can work.”

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The workwise approach

I’d like to see Workwise grow, not just in Lambeth but more boroughs. They’re

interested in people one-to-one, they take a completely different approach to helping

you.”

Interview courtesy of Peter Green (Lambeth comms)

Derek’s story

Paul and Kirsty oversee RollOnMonday at Travers Smith law firm, and Derek is the

second St Mungo’s client to have secured, and taken on, a work placement at the firm.

After working in a charity supporting young people for over 14 years, Derek was made

redundant in late 2015 and like others in a similar position it had a real negative impact.

Derek said “I felt really depressed. I was really invested in my work and felt a part of

young people’s journeys. I felt lost without it.”

Workwise started working with Derek after he lost his job because he was being

affected by the benefit cap and needed support to find work in order to reduce the risk

of him getting into rent arrears, work co-ordinator contacted him about RollOnMonday.

Derek said, “The phone call was a blessing in disguise as I felt apprehensive about

going back to work and needed something simple and that came with support.”

Travers Smith interviewed a number of candidates for a position in their mail room –

sorting and distributing the post - Derek stood out and was offered the role after

receiving support with interview techniques from Workwise and being referred to

Suited & Booted for a free, made to measure suit.

After a successful work trial, Derek started a three month placement and was slowly

introduced to the role. Travers Smith made a point of not overwhelming him with work,

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gradually adding duties and increasing his responsibilities over time. Travers Smith

also gave Derek a clothing allowance at the start of his placement, so he could buy

suitable office clothing. This is something all new employees in the facilities team at

Travers Smith receive and it was felt Derek should be treated exactly the same as

everyone else. Workwise paid for Derek’s Travel during his first month in the new role

and continue to offer him in work support.

Derek integrated really well into the team, but said it was a real culture shock at first.

“It took me time to get used to shaving every day, putting on a suit and commuting on

a bus to work.” The placement went from strength to strength and Derek was offered

a further six months at the firm. “They’ve already offered me an extension and I’d really

like to stay here, but I know there’s no guarantee of a full-time job at the end.”

Derek plans to make the most of his time at Travers Smith and has been offered

additional training. “I’m enrolled on a fire warden course in order to make me more

employable down the line.”

Derek has found the whole experience really positive and would recommend it to other

clients. “I would go for it. It’s a great opportunity. I’d like to think the other law firms in

the programme would support their candidates as much as Travers Smith has

supported me.”

The placement has been mutually beneficial as Travers Smith have really enjoyed

working with Derek. Paul said “Derek has been a real asset and a role model to some

of the members of the team.”

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Courtesy of Rob Prangle RollOnMonday Co-ordinator

St Mungo’s Skills and Employment

Tenants registered with Workwise have been able to access other opportunities

available from the wider St Mungo’s Skills and Employment team.

These include:

8 Workwise tenants have been training in Construction as part of the

Construction Multi-skills and the ReVive (Painting and Decorating) social

enterprise, now operating from Southwark and Camden.

Many Workwise tenants have enrolled with the Recovery College in

Southwark where over 70 free courses are offered, from yoga and meditation

to psychology and poetry. All travel is paid for clients who attend the college –

it is a relaxed and informal environment but for many can be the first step into

learning and many go on to accredited courses afterwards.

We have a dedicated Business Start Up team based in Southwark. 7 Lambeth

tenants have met for 1-1s with our volunteer Business Consultant. He can

support and mentor clients who aspire towards self-employment – giving

guidance on business plans, cash flow, tax and book keeping, marketing

funding and more. Experts also run specialist workshops and networking

meetings.

Workwise participants have been referred to the Basic Skills team and

Cedars Community College for support with functional skills: literacy,

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numeracy and IT. One tenant is getting help with her reading and writing 3 days

a week at both Southwark and Cedars Road.

We refer some tenants to the Wellbeing Centre in Wix’s Lane, Clapham. They

can access positive activities, relaxation and alternative therapies. This has

been and invaluable resource to our Lambeth Housing tenants who often feel

low in confidence due to health issues, unemployment or worries about money

and housing.

Case Studies

Client initials have been changed – no case studies to be reused without

consent/anonymity.

AB

AB engaged with Workwise for employment support after reading about the project in

the Lambeth local press. She was bedroom tax affected and received discretionary

housing payments under the family category, but understood that this was not a long

term option. AB is a single parent of 3 children and had not worked for 12 years, whilst

raising her family. Workwise referred AB to the Get Set Go volunteering programme,

where she gained some much needed work experience. This involved undertaking

estate inspections and an audit of housing stock. Whilst volunteering AB was enrolled

onto and completed a community into housing course as well as fire marshalling

training for a community event that she organised. It was then suggested that AB

undertake a Money mentoring course at the Lambeth Community shop. Whilst there,

an opportunity arose to complete a retail course with a work experience placement at

Marks and Spencer’s. After successfully completing the placement, M&S offered AB a

37.5hr per week full-time contract. They put her through first aid and Health and Safety

training. AB is now qualified and the shift designated Health and Safety lead. M&S

have been really impressed with AB’s progress and are now transferring her to their

new store opening in Dulwich. AB says that she chose shifts that start at 6am to 2pm.

This may have been an issue for some people, but it suits her perfectly. Her mother

takes the youngest to school in the mornings and AB is home in good time to prepare

for the afternoon school run. AB signed off of Job Seekers Allowance and has made

an application for Working Tax credit. The Workwise team are really proud of AB’s

achievement and are continuing to offer in-work support.

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BB

BB is a single parent of 3 children living in Private rented accommodation in Lambeth.

She has worked with St Mungo’s since 2013 when she first became affected by the

benefit cap and initially saw a money advisor. Due to a Rent of £1,400 per calendar

month and other welfare benefits, BB had a shortfall of £93 a week in her housing

benefit. This was topped up by a discretionary housing payment paid by Lambeth

Council directly to her landlord. However, BB was keen to return to work as her only

way of mitigating from the benefit cap. Once her youngest child was in nursery, this

freed up time for BB to access employment support. Prior to having children, BB had

studied catering and hospitality and worked her way up to being an assistant chef at a

London hotel. The team referred BB to The Ace of Clubs training centre in Clapham,

where she was able to update her skills and complete a Food Safety qualification at

Level 2. The Workwise team supported her to update her CV and start applying for

Catering jobs. She sourced vacancies and found a local catering company looking for

an assistant chef. The team supported BB with interview techniques training and she

felt motivated to attend the interview. The company offered BB a one week work trial,

which she successfully completed and was then offered a 25 hour a week (9-2pm)

contract as an assistant chef. Once gaining the position BB applied for Working Tax

Credit and support with childcare costs. Once WTC was in payment, BB became

exempt from the benefit cap. BB says she has managed to use breakfast clubs in the

morning and an early start at nursery for her youngest. She is then available after

school and nursery to collect the children. It is a busy routine, but she is pleased to

back in the workplace after many years away from the labour market.

Lambeth Resident Engagement Team

Workwise have strong links with the Lambeth Residents Engagement team – They

have funded a number Workwise participants to undertake the CIH Housing Level 2

qualification, as well as an Award in Teaching and Education (formerly PTTLS).

Lambeth Working and JCP Lambeth

Lambeth Working are the Council’s job brokerage team who source and secure jobs

and opportunities for Lambeth residents with employers and contractors.

The Welfare Solutions team have built a strong partnership with Lambeth Working.

There are regular partnership meetings and Lambeth Working see providing welfare

reform affected tenants as a priority for their job brokerage service. We have also

attended their networking events where we have been able to meet with many other

agencies that Lambeth Working also support.

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Clients with skills and interest in construction have been referred to the

bespoke construction team who have been brokering positions with contractors

primarily on the Nine Elms development project.

With non-construction brokered vacancies (for example the roles at

Sainsbury’s, Interserve Cleaning, Guys and St Thomas’s for example) we have

worked closely with their placement co-ordinators. This has been invaluable as

many of our tenants have struggled significantly with traditional recruitment

processes even though they have been competent at undertaking role tasks.

Many tenants need brokered positions to meet employers and have been

successful at interview.

The Workwise team has built links with specialist drug and alcohol leads in the

job centre, the specialist Lone Parents’ workers advisors both at JCP and

various Work Programme Providers including Ixion, Prospects, Renaisi and the

Shaw Trust. Workwise see working together with JCP staff to support clients

as crucial to success. If we work together to support clients we can achieve so

much more.

Lambeth Working have also asked the St Mungo’s Workwise team for specialist

support and advice with regards to clients they work with who have faced street

homelessness or other housing and health related issues. The team is always willing

to share expertise and knowledge in this area with all our partners and feel this

strengthens our relationship even further.

External Partnership Working

We have worked hard to service existing and build new relationships, network with

other agencies, and create a diverse range of opportunities and partners that our

tenants can benefit from.

Employer Partnerships:

Breyers – we have continued to strengthen this relationship and have worked

closely to organise bespoke in-house workshops and interviews for our clients.

Mears – we have worked with Mears’ Care Division to put forward good

candidates for their care roles (home care work based in Lambeth).

Mitie and MI Homecare – for tenants interested in care-work links have been

secured to support training and employment.

Employ SE1 – we are a referral partner for this organisation who broker jobs

for Lambeth and Southwark residents with four Business Improvement Districts

(BIDs) based in SE1.

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Young People

Prince’s Trust (South London) – the Work Coordinators have attended

networking opportunities with the Prince’s Trust. Any clients meeting the

criteria can be referred to their Fairbridge and Team programmes.

Spear – another organisation for young people offering employment support

based in Clapham Junction – have supported one client to get their CSCS card.

Local Partnerships

Smartworks - 20 clients have been referred to this excellent service for women

in Islington and Ladbroke Grove which provides free interview outfits including

shoes and bags as well 1-1 interview coaching. This has made a substantial

difference to clients’ self-esteem and really makes them look the part! They

have been an invaluable resource to Workwise delivery.

Suited and Booted – we are a referral partner for this interview clothing service

which is for men. They have been amazing, seeing tenants at short notice to

kit them out for interview.

Ace of Clubs – Ace of Clubs is a family-like community providing

transformative support for those who are homeless, vulnerable and otherwise

marginalised in our area. They have provided CIEH accredited Food Hygiene

level 2 training and ICT level 1 courses.

High Trees – we regularly refer into the classes already offered at this training

provider in Tulse Hill. The Workwise team have met with High Trees to plan

some specialist training for our client group. They are currently facilitating the

Community In to Housing Level 2 (CIH) course for our tenants.

Tree Shepherd – this organisation provide free business start-up support and

ongoing mentoring to Lambeth Residents who want to set up their own

business. We have visited them and provided training to their team on benefit

entitlement. We refer clients to their support and get good feedback.

MI Computer Solutions – offer a range of training including English, Maths,

and IT courses.

Lambeth College – we have created a contact at the college so we receive

updates on all employment/employability related opportunities.

Blackfriars Settlement – this Southwark based organisation also offer food

hygiene training and our clients have been able to access this through our

advocacy.

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St Giles Trust – based in Camberwell. Their STAR programme supports those

with offending history to access employment opportunities many which have

been especially brokered. Two Workwise clients are using this service and

successfully secured.

Freshlife – Workwise tenants have been referred to this catering programme

run by the Beyond Food Foundation in Southwark. Clients learn about healthy

eating, get work experience in a top restaurant kitchen and shop for produce in

Borough Market and get specialist employment support to get a job in the

catering industry.

Free2Learn – we have referred clients to forklift truck driver and security SIA

training at this Croydon provider (they have other sites across London which

our work and learning team also refer to).

Remploy - We have applied to become a formal referral partner for this

specialist organisation who support long term sick and people with disabilities

into employment opportunities.

Progression Fund

Lambeth Housing Services has provided a progression fund of £10,000 for Workwise

tenants which was administered by the team. Tenants that engage with support or gain

employment can apply to the fund for up to £150 per person, for help to remove

financial barriers which may have held them back in their journey into work. Tenants

are asked meet part of the cost when appropriate as it shows commitment from them

and as well as from us and also this allows the fund to reach more people.

Examples of items the fund has been used for are:

The cost of DBS checks

Driving licence / renewal or other essential ID (e.g. passport/birth certificate or

part of the cost towards a biometric ID)

Equipment for job / training course or course fees

Travel costs – e.g. for interviews / for first month of a new job until first pay

cheque received

Uniform/specialist clothing

CSCS cards

Mobile phone or top-up for employer contact

Specialist software

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Digital Inclusion

Initial data and our experience with tenants informed us that digital literacy was a

significant support need amongst Welfare Reform affected tenants. We recognise how

important digital literacy is to any job seeker and how it is also extremely important with

the roll out of Universal Credit as well as with Universal Job match.

We ensure:

All new Workwise tenants get support and assistance to set up an email

account

We provide informal IT support in our 1:1 ETE sessions

We hold regular group workshops using 12 refurbished laptops purchased

using the progression fund and have become a UK Online Centre

Tenants are signposted to Digibuddies sessions which run across Lambeth

including in Lambeth digital hubs

We refer clients to IT classes at MI Comput Solutions, High Trees, Ace of Clubs,

St Luke’s Hub, Lambeth College and St Mungo’s

Health

Many of our Workwise tenants have been unemployed for a considerable amount of

time which can often leave them feeling low and depressed. We have found that sport

and physical activity or meaningful use of time can make a positive difference to how

people feel about themselves. We encourage our clients to access free opportunities

such as SilverFit in Brockwell Park, the St Mungo’s Wellbeing Centre in Clapham for

complementary therapies and other Wellbeing activities. We have also encouraged

many clients to register with the Lambeth Leisure Pass scheme where they get

considerable concessions on gym and fitness classes in the borough (many didn’t

know this existed). We also encourage clients to obtain other offers that they are

entitled to such as discount oyster card if they are on a work related benefit and in

some cases a Freedom Pass.

Food bank

Workwise is an official referrer to the Lambeth Food bank. For some tenants who are

really struggling with a financial crisis at that moment this can really help. It can lessen

the load for our job seeking clients who often have a lot on their mind. We have visited

the West Norwood Food bank to learn more about how they operate and ensure we

make appropriate referrals. We provide vouchers to those clients who are most in

need. There are further Foodbanks based in Ferndale Road, Brixton and more recently

St Margaret’s church in Streatham.

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SHP Tenancy Support, Centre 70 and Money Champions

SHP Tenancy Support and Centre 70, also work on contracts with Lambeth Housing

Services and support Welfare Reform affected tenants at Union Road. We have

developed close links with them and work jointly to refer and support clients. The Work

Co-ordinators have attended SHP’s team meetings to promote the service to their

support workers and work alongside 2 Centre 70 staff on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

This has been an invaluable resource, as our clients often have significant housing,

benefit and debt problems which can make it hard to focus on employment. Partnering

with organisations such as these means we can offer a more holistic service where

clients can obtain support and progress in their lives and work.

Tenancy Sustainment

The majority of tenants referred to Workwise have had significant rent arrears due to

the shortfall in housing benefit as an impact of Welfare Reform. Many have faced pre

eviction and eviction panels and in many cases court proceedings. Other clients are

managing to stay on top of their rent but still desperately struggling financially. For

those that engaged with employment support, the risk of homelessness has greatly

reduced. As stated in the introduction, of the 297 households worked with since

01/02/15 to 31/10/16 100% have maintained their tenancy.

Workwise staff & Welfare Reform Team at Lambeth Housing Services