Content

News

Flexible New Deal- Explained

Posted on 30 March 2010.

 

The current jobseeker support regime offered by Jobcentre Plus is very successful, with 60% of jobseekers finding work within three months. The New Deal programme, introduced in 1998, has played a significant contribution to the reduction of long-term youth claimant unemployment.

The regime has been reviewed and Ministers have agreed that reform of the Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) New Deals and some aspects of the preceding JSA regime are now necessary.

The Jobseeker's Regime and the Flexible New Deal (JRFND) will replace the current mandatory New Deal for Young People, New Deal 25+, New Deal 50+.

The Jobseeker's Regime is being refreshed to offer more support to help people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance back to work; it will also increase the responsibilities that people have whilst claiming Jobseeker's Allowance.

JRFND has four stages:
Stage 1: 'Self managed job search'
Stage 2: Typically after 3 months – 'Directed job search'
Stage 3: Typically after 6 months – 'Supported job search'
Stage 4: Typically after 12 months – entry to the Flexible New Deal

Flexible New Deal offers specialist back to work support, focusing on the needs of the individual and on achieving sustained job outcomes.

Using experience from the New Deal programmes and Employment Zones, it is planned to build on the Private, Public and Voluntary Sector's ability to provide innovative, specialist solutions to deliver employment support.

Phase 1 starts with 28 Jobcentre Plus districts operating the revised Jobseeker's Regime from 6 April 2009. The contracts to deliver the Flexible New Deal for these districts will start on 6 October 2009. The Black Country is part of this initial phase.

Under the new regime all customers will have an initial skills screening and Back to Work Session where the customer starts to prepare a three step plan ready for discussion with their personal adviser. This will be followed by a more in-depth skills health check at the six-month stage, if they have not already found work.

Customers needing the most help will be fast-tracked. This will allow them quicker access to intensive support.

The successful New Deal Gateway will be refreshed and introduced for all customers as Stage 3 – the 'Supported Job Search' stage of the new Jobseeker's Regime from six months of a Jobseeker's Allowance claim. Regular attendance at the Jobcentre – and benefit sanctions for those who do not keep to their agreement to actively seek work – will remain in place.

All those reaching 12 months unemployment will enter the Flexible New Deal in order to receive intensive support from an external, specialist, back-to-work service provider. Those identified as needing help sooner will be fast-tracked to the Flexible New Deal without having reached 12 months' unemployment. During this time with an external provider we expect all customers will enter work or participate in a minimum of four weeks' full-time, work-related activity to increase their chance of finding employment.