Each month, in touch keeps you up to date with the latest news from Jobcentre Plus.

This edition includes the early success of Local Employment Partnerships, and your opportunity to put forward views about our specialist disability employment services.

We also have details of changes to the DWP ministerial team and news of pilots to locate HMRC enquiry centres in some Jobcentres.

If you have a suggestion for a future edition, or any feedback, please let us know.

Latest news

New Ministerial team

Following the appointment on 24 January of Rt. Hon James Purnell as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, it was announced that the Rt. Hon Stephen Timms has been appointed Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform.  Find out more about Stephen Timms and James Purnell online. 

Employers hail early Local Employment Partnership successes

More than 400 employers have committed to Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs) with Jobcentre Plus, and around half are already putting their agreements into action. As a result there’s real enthusiasm about the benefits and potential of LEPs.

John Lewis Sheffield’s Managing Director Mark Lewis said, “We’re delighted with the success of our pilot. We’re now talking to other large city retailers about our experiences”.

Ceri Williams from Tesco said, "We’ve been overwhelmed with the response to recruitment for the Maesteg store and by the quality of the applications”.

Jobcentre Plus prepares people, who for various reasons have been unable to find employment, to take up job opportunities from employers who have committed to LEPs.  In return, employers give them a fair shot at the job by offering measures such as work trials, flexible working to suit lone parents and mentoring.

Learn more about Local Employment Partnerships online

In focus

Stakeholder news

A round-up of business information for stakeholders

Pathways to Work to be extended nationwide

People with health issues and disabilities who are claiming Incapacity Benefit will have the chance to improve their opportunities of finding work as Pathways to Work becomes available nationwide.

Jobcentre Plus currently delivers Pathways support in 18 Districts.  The launch of Phase 1 of the Provider-led Pathways on 3 December 2007 extended Pathways to another 15 Jobcentre Plus Districts.  Provider-led Pathways is delivered mainly by the private and voluntary sectors in partnership with Jobcentre Plus.

Phase 2 will cover the remaining 16 Jobcentre Plus Districts from 28 April 2008.  The contractors for Phase 2 were announced in December – you can see who the contract winners are online, along with details of the Phase 1 contractors.

Pathways to Work will be a key element of the support available to customers claiming the new Employment and Support Allowance – introduced from October 2008.

For further information visit the Jobcentre Plus – Pathways to Work website.

HMRC enquiry centres in Jobcentres

Pilots are underway to test the feasibility of locating Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) enquiry centres in some Jobcentres.

HMRC are undergoing a processing office closure programme, which includes the closure of some enquiry centres. Ministers are keen to retain this service where possible. The possibility of locating HMRC enquiry centres in Jobcentres is being investigated. Pilots are underway in Alfreton in Derbyshire and Widnes in Cheshire.  A third is planned in Buckie in Moray, Scotland.

These co-located enquiry centres will enable us to make best use of our resources to deliver valuable services to the public. They will also allow us to provide customers with a one-stop-shop for their tax and benefit needs.

The HMRC enquiry centres will have their own clearly signed reception desk, as well as signage outside the Jobcentre.

Decisions about the future of co-located enquiry centres and Jobcentres will be made once these pilots have been evaluated.

New European Social Fund Programme for 2007 to 2013

The European Social Fund (ESF) was set up by the European Union (EU) to help people fulfil their potential by giving them better skills and better job prospects. In 2007, the EU launched a new round of ESF programmes for the next seven years to 2013.

In England, programme funding of up to £80 million may be available annually to support Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Jobcentre Plus priority customers. DWP works in each English Region to secure ESF funding. In Scotland and Wales the Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly administer the fund and approve ESF programmes.

The funds received from ESF will contribute to the DWP strategy to achieve the Government’s target of an 80 per cent employment rate.

Jobcentre Plus regional teams have played a key role in developing the new ESF contracts.  The aim is to focus the regional use of ESF contracts to complement contracted employment programmes at a local level, providing specialist provision and filling gaps for priority groups.

The new ESF contracts will be awarded from April 2008, and up and running from 23 June 2008.

Customer news

Specialist Disability Employment Services – Public Consultation

As reported in last month’s edition, the Minister for Disabled People launched a public consultation ‘Helping people achieve their full potential: Improving Specialist disability employment services’ in early December 2007.  You can find out more about the consultation, and submit your views online.  The views of DWP staff, our customers, employers and service providers, especially those who help disabled people find and retain employment, are welcomed.  The consultation closes on 10 March 2008.  

About in touch  – in touch aims to provide you with short summaries of the latest news, progress of our modernisation programme, forthcoming changes to benefit rules, updates on performance, as well as news on important policy issues which affect our shared customers.  in touch complements Touchbase, the quarterly publication from DWP, by providing a monthly focus on Jobcentre Plus related issues.

If someone you know might like to receive in touch, they can subscribe online. Jobcentre Plus will not pass on any details to a third party. Your information will only be used to provide you with information on Jobcentre Plus and DWP business.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please email the editor (including your name, job and organisation). And if you no longer wish to receive in touch then you'll find a link to unsubscribe below.