Service overview Delivered by: Funded by:

Transcription

1 Service overview Delivered by: Funded by:

2 Welcome Reed in Partnership is delighted to have been selected as the lead contractor to deliver Northern Ireland s Steps 2 Success programme in the Southern Employment Service Region. Steps 2 Success is designed to support eligible benefit claimants to find and sustain long term employment. The programme also supports the needs of employers by providing the right candidates, with the right skills, at the right time. Reed in Partnership is a public service provider that exists to change people s lives for the better. We are part of the Reed Family of Companies, which has been operating in Northern Ireland since 1995 and includes Reed Specialist Recruitment, Reed Learning and reed.co.uk the UK s largest jobsite. We launched Reed in Partnership back in 1998, with the mission to become the partner of choice for developing people and their communities, and that mission hasn t changed. Since then, we have supported over 140,000 people to move from benefits into sustainable employment and we are looking forward to helping many more through Steps 2 Success. This guide sets out the support we provide to jobseekers; our delivery approach; our service guarantee; and how we work with key stakeholders across the region. I hope you find it useful and I look forward to working with you as we deliver a first-class service to jobseekers in Northern Ireland. Martin Fallon Managing Director, Reed in Partnership 2

3 Contents What is Steps 2 Success? 4 Our approach to delivery 5 Our service guarantees 6 Supply chain management Our coverage 7 Contact us 8 3

4 What is Steps 2 Success? Steps 2 Success is the Department for Employment and Learning s (DEL) main adult employment programme. The aim of the new programme is to help eligible benefit recipients to find and sustain work thereby supporting the needs of employers and the economy. The main objectives are to: Increase the number of participants finding and sustaining employment Ensure all participants, regardless of barriers, have the best chance to find and sustain employment Meet the future demands of participants and employers and therefore contribute to building the NI economy Key facts about the programme design: Three contract delivery areas to cover NI, with one lead contractor in each area Participants are referred from their Jobs and Benefits office/jobcentre timing depends on their benefit type, age, and barriers to work Participants join the programme for between 12 and 18 months, depending on their circumstances DEL does not prescribe a customer journey, instead each participant will receive a bespoke package of support defined by their needs and barriers to employment All participants receive a minimum service guarantee to ensure everyone experiences high quality and effective support Payment is largely by results 4

5 Our approach to delivery Dedicated and Specialist Employment Advisers Each participant receives one-to-one advice and guidance from a dedicated Adviser. We have specialised Advisers to support young people and participants with an identified health condition. Better Off Calculations We support each participant to understand how their finances could be affected by employment, including working tax credits, housing, etc. Training and Skills Our in-house training supplies participants with a number of courses and skills: The Journey: employability support including CVs, job applications and work culture 3G Mindset: our unique course to understand what employers want Online portal: e-learning and job search support Sector and employer-specific skills: courses in retail, business admin, call centre, etc. and courses bespoke to employers Call Off provision At times, a participant may need extra support. Our catalogue of local provision details external referral options for these participants, such as debt advice or housing support. Access to vacancies We have a team of experienced Recruitment Managers working with local employers to plan and prepare for future recruitment and skills needs. Using the Reed brand to engage, we work closely with employers to ensure our participants have what employers want. Self employment We deliver specialist self employment advice to participants, including business plans, access to startup funding and marketing. Sustained employment Our focus is on supporting participants along career paths that will lead to long-term employment, We aim to break the cycle of short term work and benefits by ensuring we support participants to overcome their barriers to work and to find suitable and secure jobs. 5

6 Our Service Guarantees Each participant will: Receive a call from an Employment Adviser, a welcome pack and have an induction within 10 days Benefit from a full assessment of their needs, skills and barriers to work with their Employment Adviser, at the first appointment Have a Progression to Employment Plan that identifies realistic job goals, how their finances would change by starting work, and objectives for overcoming their barriers to work. This will be created within five days of their first appointment and will be reviewed and updated every two weeks Get access to work-focused support to manage a health condition, work placements, online support and e-learning, on-going support and in-depth reviews at least every three months Receive a Progression to Employment Plan when they find work along with weekly support calls for the first month and once a month thereafter. Progression to Employment Plans will be reviewed after six and 12 months Be part of a joint evaluation, if they leave the programme without starting employment. Advisers and participants will evaluate their progress together, create an up-to-date CV and Progression to Employment Plan and identify any further support they need. Supply chain management We are committed to working closely and collaboratively with our supply chain partners, supporting them with high quality systems and performance management. We will continue to develop the capacity of our partners to provide a more effective service to employers, who are integral to Steps 2 Success. 6

7 Our coverage We work with local supply chain partners to deliver a comprehensive service across the Southern Employment Service Region. We engage with organisations to become either an end-to-end provider, or a specialist provider. End-to-end providers are responsible for supporting participants through their entire journey on Steps 2 Success, from referral to sustaining work. Specialist providers are able to deliver set interventions or services. These providers are engaged to support participants with specific needs such as debt or substance abuse. We have chosen our supply chain partners through a tried and tested due diligence process. Each partner brings its own strengths in delivery including local knowledge and experience supporting the hardest to help. For an up to date list of our end-to-end supply chain partners on Steps 2 Success please visit our website: Magherafelt Omagh Cookstown Dungannon Lurgan Portadown Ballynahinch Enniskillen Armagh Banbridge Downpatrick Newcastle Newry Kilkeel 7

8 Contact Us Please contact us with any questions on Steps 2 Success or visit our website for more information: Ciara Loye Partnership Manager / ciara.loye@reed.co.uk