How the Work Programme is excluding the third sector - and its clients
A guest post from the Welfare Network Manager of Crisis on why so many organisations are already pulling out
The Government's Work Programme was launched in June 2011 with much fanfare. Much of the rhetoric was how the Third Sector would be actively involved in the delivery of the new welfare to work programme, and how they would be resourced to support people with multiple barriers into sustainable employment. Indeed the Minister for Employment was quoted as saying - "We want to encourage these consortia, and the involvement of voluntary sector organisations in the delivery of the Work Programme. As I began my speech by saying it is often the localised, specialised voluntary services that can make the biggest change to people's lives - particularly those with complex situations and multiple barriers that prevent them from returning to work." However the reality is proving to be quite different. Many specialist organisations, including Crisis, spent many days completing Expressions of Interest to potential Prime Contractors, with the belief that sub-contracts would provide both the funding and support to deliver to marginalised groups. In our own experience, and of other member organisations of the Crisis Welfare Network , this often proved not to be the case. At Crisis we had estimated it would cost us around #9k to deliver the service experience tells us is needed to work with a homeless person for around 6 months to prepare them to enter employment and then to support them for a year in employment as required. However, the prices we were offered were all around #4k - #5k. In addition one prime would only pay us for engaging with a client and job entry (the hard and expensive bit) whilst they would then themselves support the client for the year in work (the easy bit but the bit that had the highest payment from DWP). There were also approaches from Primes requesting that we work with their clients using our own funding streams, with no financial reward for doing so. Disappointingly, this has resulted in voluntary sector organisations already withdrawing from the Work Programme, as many believe it to be 'not fit for purpose', with the impact that many vulnerable people will not get the support they need.
At Crisis we will be working hard to monitor the real impact of the Work Programme on the ground and we will continue to work even harder to ensure that homeless people are still able to access the support and opportunities they need and deserve to develop, find and achieve suitable and sustainable employment. To find out more please see www.crisis.org.uk
The reality of the Work Programme is proving to be quite different from what the government promised. Many specialist organisations, including Crisis, believed that sub-contracts would provide both the funding and support to deliver to marginalised groups - but we've found this not to be the case. At Crisis we had estimated it would cost us around £9,000 to work with a homeless person for around 6 months to prepare them to enter employment, and then to support them for a year in employment. However, we were offered only £4,000 - £5,000.
In addition, one contracter would only pay us for engaging with a client and job entry (the hard and expensive bit) whilst they would then themselves support the client for the year in work (the easy bit with the highest payment from DWP). There were also requests that we work with their clients using our own funding streams - with no financial reward for doing so. Disappointingly, this has resulted in voluntary sector organisations already withdrawing from the Work Programme, as many believe it to be 'not fit for purpose', with the impact that many vulnerable people will not get the support they need.
The Government's Work Programme was launched in June 2011 with much fanfare. Much of the rhetoric was how the Third Sector would be actively involved in the delivery of the new welfare to work programme, and how they would be resourced to support people with multiple barriers into sustainable employment. Indeed the Minister for Employment was quoted as saying: "We want to encourage these consortia, and the involvement of voluntary sector organisations in the delivery of the Work Programme. It is often the localised, specialised voluntary services that can make the biggest change to people's lives - particularly those with complex situations and multiple barriers that prevent them from returning to work."
At Crisis we will be working hard to monitor the real impact of the Work Programme on the ground and we will continue to work even harder to ensure that homeless people are still able to access the support and opportunities they need and deserve to develop, find and achieve suitable and sustainable employment.
To find out more please see www.crisis.org.uk
