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Job advice in unemployment hotspots to help thousands of people into work
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Expert job advice will be available in community centres and GP surgeries in some of the most deprived housing estates across Britain to help thousands more people into jobs, Work and Pensions Minister Helen Goodman announced today.
Jobcentre Plus Outreach advisers will work with partners, such as housing associations, resident groups, local authorities and local community organisations, to reach more than 15,000 people and to address the issues of deep-seated and intergenerational worklessness.
The recent employment White Paper announced an extension to the community-based approach which has been trialled since October. This will be funded by an additional £12m.
Helen Goodman said: “We know that most people want to work but for a small minority of people not working has become an accepted way of life. We will be taking our services out of the Jobcentre and into the community in a number of deprived estates.
“Our Outreach advisers will work with community partners in unemployment hotspots across Britain to make sure Jobcentre Plus support and advice is easily accessible to everyone.
“Work is the best way out of poverty and our Outreach programme is part of the broad range of support available through Jobcentre Plus to help people into work.”
New Outreach teams are being launched in every Jobcentre Plus region, building on the success of the three pilots which continue to run in Greenwich, East Durham, and Liverpool.
Each of the teams can decide on the best way to provide intense support to suit their areas. This could range from setting up adviser sessions in doctors’ surgeries, to visiting benefits claimants in their own homes.
The partnership approach will offer a range of specialist services to people, from employment and skills training to advice on debt, drug and housing issues, as well as access to the right benefit, to help families lift themselves out of poverty.
The 16 teams working across Britain will focus on deprived
communities to help benefit claimants move closer to the jobs
market and into work.
