STATUS EMPLOYMENT NEWS
Note: Many of these news items are in .pdf format so you can download them and read them at your leisure. pdf documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher to read. Download Acrobat Reader.
News - 21/01/09
THE NEW EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT ALLOWANCE
ESA - What do the Government mean with personalised conditionality?
The Government has set out a vision for a personalised conditionality and support regime with three broad groups:
A ‘Work-Ready’ group for people who are immediately job-ready. The personalised regime will be akin to the current Jobseeker’s Allowance regime. It should be largely rulesbased and self-directed with standard jobsearch requirements. As part of further personalisation there should also be steps to:
- Speed up access to the more personalised parts of the JSA regime for harder to help groups; and
- Improve support for people on JSA with a health condition or disability.
A ‘Progression to Work’ group aimed at those where an immediate return to work is not appropriate but is a genuine possibility with time, encouragement and support, and where the conditionality will:
- Reflect the claimant’s co-ownership of the return to work process;
- Be tailored to their capability and built around their circumstances;
- Be based on activity that supports the claimant’s own route back to work; and
- Link up with effective support.
A ‘No Conditionality’ group that involves no conditionality requirements whatsoever. This would consist of the current Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) support group, lone parents and partners with a youngest child under the age of one, and certain carers.
To support the vision the sanctions regime should be:
- Made more responsive by devolving decision-making for some key decisions around attending interviews, supported by the introduction of tighter rules around good cause for those not attending and a new ‘notification’ principle;
- Made clearer through the introduction of an early warning system, better communication and, over the longer-term, a move towards a system of fixed fines; and
- Better able to deal with repeat offenders through the introduction over the longer-term of a clearer set of processes, with a stronger approach based around mandatory activity for those found to be playing the system.
Status Employment believes that better specific help should be given to people wishing to seek work. We certainly do not agree with the unfortunate use of language used by the Government, none of our candidates seeking work could be described as offenders. We feel these proposals will further stigmatise our candidates, who are genuinely looking for work and more work should go into offering specialised support to people. Status Employment concurs with BASE response to "No One Written Off" which is available from our website (www.statusemployment.org.uk). If you feel at all worried please contact your Employment Consultant who will be able to help you.
News - 09/01/09
Download the the latest edition of Status News in .pdf format.
News - 22/12/08
BASE responses to DWP’s Design and Procurement Proposals for a new Specialist Disability Employment Programme
Read BASE responses to the DWP’s Design and Procurement Proposals for a new Specialist Disability Employment Programme:
- BASE Consultation Response (pdf)
- IDEA's Briefing (pdf)
- BASE Respons to "No-One Written Off" (word)
News - 24/09/08
Football Changes Lives
A Coca-Cola Championship football club, a Croydon-based charity, the local NHS and the UK’s largest sports charity have joined together to help change the lives of disabled people in South East London — by providing free football coaching.
The £250,000, two-year project is being co-ordinated by Shirley-based Status Employment (a registered charity which aims to assist disabled people in finding and retaining paid employment) in partnership with Charlton Athletic Community Trust. The Football Foundation — the UK’s largest sports charity funded by the Premier, The FA and the Government — has provided two thirds of the funding with the other third provided by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
All candidates on the scheme are being offered free football coaching by The Addicks, will be enabled to take part in competitions and will have the opportunity to be entered into the Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) League.
At the same time Status will be ensuring that each client has access to a life skills coach to support them in taking greater control of decisions affecting their lives. It is hoped that many will move into employment.
The scheme starts in September and is likely to offer places to around 200 disabled people over the two years.
David Jones, Chair of Status Employment said "This is a superb project, and we are delighted to be in partnership with Charlton Athletic FC in offering this very innovative service to the disabled community. Through the generous sponsorship of the Football Foundation and SLAM we have the opportunity to make a real difference to disabled people's quality of life, not only throughout Croydon but also a very large part of South London.
"For Status Employment to enter its eighteenth year of service to the disabled in South London with such a substantial initiative speaks volumes for our team of dedicated people."
Barry Simmons for Charlton Athletic said "We are very excited to be involved with Status Employment in this project. To engage the clients into physical activity is the first step but to then link them to employment opportunities will allow us develop an all round programme."
Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: "Football is our national game and it should therefore be accessible to everyone to play. I am delighted that Football Foundation money is helping Status Employment to increase opportunities for disabled young people in London to get access to regular football. Since 2000 the Football Foundation has funded over 120 disability sports projects worth £10.4m and we are determined to fund many more."
If you would like to find out more about a current concrete example of another scheme please view this BBC news article.
For more information contact Ian Keeber on 07983363576.
News - 17/09/08
Hear Us Vancancies
Croydon Mental Health Service Users Group Hear Us is advertising a vacancy for an Office Administrator. They are also look for trustees, particularly those who may have used Croydon's mental health services. Further details are available in the pdf files below.
- Hear Us - Admin Vacancy (pdf)
- Hear Us - Trustees Wanted (pdf)
News - 31/03/08
Freedom Passes - 2 month period of grace
As you may be aware all freedom passes which have not yet been renewed show the expiry date 31st March 2008. We have been advised by TfL that London Buses, London Underground, Tramlink, DLR and London Overground have all already been advised that Freedom Passes, that have not yet been re-stickered for 2010, should be accepted up to 31 May 08. They have briefed their drivers and staff.
