Your Benefits and the Work Programme advice booklet

Transcription

1 Your Benefits and the Work Programme advice booklet Helping you into employment

2 The Work Programme is designed to help support you into employment Think work? Think Work Programme Studies have shown that up to 80% of problem drug users are unemployed yet work has been shown to be an important component of rehabilitation and reintegration into society, reducing the risk of relapse. More problematic drug users in work should mean more people successfully achieving recovery and exiting treatment and a reduction in crime perhaps more importantly, most unemployed drug users want to work and recognize its significance for building a normal life. Once in work, recovering drug users have been found to be good employees. Working Towards Recovery: Getting Problem Drug Users Jobs-UK Drug Policy Commission, December 2008

3 Helping you find employment Gaining employment or sustaining your employment is an important part of your recovery. At Oasis we understand that gaining a job is not an easy task for some people and additional support is needed to help you gain employment. Before you get the job you want you may need to go to college or on a training course to improve your knowledge and skills. You may need to complete a volunteer placement or gain an apprenticeship to gain valuable experience and a reference, particularly if you have no employment record. Whatever you need we can help. Oasis works closely with Job Centre+ and the two local Work Programme providers, Maximus and A4E and also link in with local colleges, education and training providers. The Work Programme is designed to help support you into employment. Oasis aims to work in partnership with Work Programme providers ensuring that you get the support you need at a time when you need it. This partnership approach should improve your recovery outcomes. Our aim is to ensure that the Work Programme advisors are aware of the additional support you may need prior to and whilst in employment or training. The Oasis Republic Recovery Network is where the services are placed that will offer you the support you need. Please look at the timetables and see what is available or discuss your options with your key worker or any Project Worker or volunteer. Oasis provides different opportunities for you to increase your confidence and self-esteem such as Service User+, arts and craft sessions, group work and peer support. We work in partnership with Probation and other stakeholders to ensure there is an integrated approach to your recovery. On our website we have included some useful forms to help you and your worker to assess your skills, education and employment experience. We tend to complete these forms during separate sessions allowing time to consider all the experience you have had, which could lead to employment and also allows time for you to consider what you want to do.

4 Regardless of your circumstances Oasis will support your efforts to secure and sustain employment as part of your Recovery Journey What you can expect from Oasis Oasis will support your efforts to engage with the Jobcentre and the Work Programme. We can do this by: Supporting you to make the correct decision about benefits and assistance with completing benefit application forms Personalised support in assessing your employment and educational skills and identification of skills gap Support and advocacy linked to the Jobcentre and Work Programme Motivational support Supporting you to achieve, maintain and sustain your recovery goals.

5 How to get onto the Work Programme All referrals to the Work Programme are made by the Jobcentre. Referrals are Mandatory or Voluntary. The Work Programme Providers in Thames Valley are Maximus and A4E. Mandatory Referrals to the Work Programme If you have been on JSA for 12 months you will be referred to the Work Programme by your Jobcentre Advisor. If you are on ESA but in the Work Related Activity Group you will be referred to the Work Programme by your Jobcentre Advisor. Voluntary Referrals Early Access to the Work Programme If you are on JSA and you fall into one or all of the following groups Ex-Incapacity benefit claimant Ex-offender Have a current or previous drug/alcohol dependency You can be referred to the Work Programme early after three months on JSA. Whether you are referred Mandatory or Voluntary your participation on the Work Programme is Mandatory. Your benefits can be affected if you fail to attend or participate in the Work Programme.

6 What you can expect from the Work Programme The Work Programme will support your journey to get a job, stay in work and develop a steady work track record by: Assigning you a personal advisor Providing information, advice and guidance Help with CV s and jobsearch Interview skills/techniques Confidence/communication skills Financial advice Soft and basic skills Volunteering Business start up support. In Work Support Starting work can be tough. The Work Programme will continue to support you while you are in work. They will support by: Practical tips on time-management, budgeting advice and assistance with travel to work Help and advice on how to tackle issues at work before they become a problem Financial advice and better off in work calculations.

7 Are you on the right benefit? There are two main work related benefits which one is right for you? Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) apply for this if you are actively looking for work or would like to get back into work with support. Your substance misuse will NOT prevent you from applying for JSA. You could get up to 56.25, or per week depending on your circumstances. Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) apply for this if you have an illness or disability in addition to your substance misuse. You may be asked to take part in a work capability assessment. This means you will have to fill in and return a questionnaire and attend a medical assessment. You may also be asked to go to work focussed interviews that will help you get back into work. The Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) has two components Work-related Activity Group and Support Group. You will be told which component group you are in. First 13 weeks of ESA Claim (under 25) First 13 Weeks of ESA Claim (over 25) From 14th Week Work related Activity Group up to From 14th week Support Group up to For detailed information on JSA and ESA and other benefits visit your local jobcentre or visit or Future changes Universal credit is coming Universal Credit will go live nationally in October Universal Credit will replace income-related JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support, Working Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits and Housing Benefit. This system will combine out of work benefits with in work support in a single system. It aims to create the right incentive to get more people into work by ensuring work always pays. Protecting the most vulnerable in our society and delivering fairness to those claiming benefit and to the taxpayer. For further more detailed information visit your local jobcentre or visit or

8 Contact details Oasis Wycombe Oasis House George Street High Wycombe HP11 2RZ Tel: Oasis Aylesbury Unity House 98 Walton Street Aylesbury HP21 7QP Tel: Jobcentre Plus Wycombe 80 Oxford Road High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP11 2 DN Tel: Jobcentre Plus Aylesbury 49 Buckingham Street Aylesbury HP20 2LX Maximus Wycombe Apollo Centre 2nd Floor Suite C Desborough Road High Wycombe HP11 2QW Tel: Maximus Aylesbury Ground Floor Walker House George Street HP 20 2HU Tel: A4e Wycombe Victoria House Rooms 3456 Desborough Street High Wycombe HP11 2NS Tel: A4e Aylesbury Part 4th Floor, Sunley House Oxford Road Aylesbury HP19 8EZ Tel: