Work trials and work experience will be made mandatory for the long term unemployed as part of a major expansion of employment support and welfare reform to get people back to work, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper announced recently.

The Government is rolling out the next phase of welfare reform designed to help more than three quarters of a million people back into work by the end of next year.

The Flexible New Deal (in now in force) involves private, public and third sector partners, and the first new starters under the £1bn Future Jobs Fund, alongside a major expansion of the successful Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs).

The Government believes that this extra help should be accompanied by a stronger responsibility for people to take up help which is on offer and could get them back into work. In trial areas from next year, where jobseekers have been out of work for more than six months (but have turned down work experience, support or training that could help them get jobs) may be required to take up a work trial or work experience placement as a condition of continuing to receive benefit.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper said:

"A lot of people are still having a tough time finding work and we’re investing £5bn to give them more help. We’re working with businesses, local councils and voluntary sector groups as part of a major change in the way the welfare state delivers more personalised support to help people into work. But in return everyone has to do their bit to find work or take up the new help that’s on offer. Otherwise it’s not fair on everyone else who’s trying desperately hard to find a job and support their families."

The expansion of welfare reform and employment support includes:

• Thousands of jobseekers who have been out of work for a year will get tailored help to get jobs from specialist organisations through the Flexible New Deal. The contracts mean companies will be paid according to the number of people they get into sustainable work.
   
• The first of 150,000 jobseekers to be helped under the £1bn Future Jobs Fund have already started work in Barnsley. More than 120 new starters are filling a variety of new jobs at the local NHS Trust, local colleges, the Fire Brigade and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.
   
• 500,000 more people are to be helped into work by the end of next year through an expansion of the successful Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs). LEPs, where businesses work with Jobcentre Plus to match people who are out of work, have already helped 250,000 people into work. This will include a significant increase in work trials and work experience placements which have proven effective.

Mandatory work trials and work experience will be developed through a pilot scheme in several areas from next year. Where jobseekers have been out of work for more than six months but have turned down work trials, support or training that could get them jobs, advisors will be able to require them to take up a work trial or work experience placement as a condition of continuing to receive benefit. The vast majority of jobseekers are working desperately hard to find jobs and are having a tougher time because of the recession. But a small minority of long term jobseekers do not currently take up the support on offer and are taking longer to find work as a result.

The Flexible New Deal also includes at least four weeks mandatory activity such as training or work experience.

Employment Minister Jim Knight said:

"The Government’s investment to help people back to work is having a very positive impact. It’s very pleasing to see the first people starting work today as a direct result of our Future Jobs Fund. Over the coming months we can expect to see more and more young people, and those in unemployment hot spots, finding work through this Fund.

“The Flexible New Deal is here to help the longer term unemployed develop new skills, build confidence and significantly increase their chances of getting into work."

Source:  Department for Work and Pensions