SfA contracts finishing March 2011
Submitted by Cloudberry on Wed, 16/03/2011 - 1:16pm
Does anyone have any idea what will happen to funding for basic skills training for unemployed people after March 2011?
Skills Funding Agency contracts expire on 31st March and there is no sign of a replacement or extension. Many employees within several large training providers are currently looking at redundancy situations. There may be work for them when the Work Programme contracts are awarded but there will be nothing to fill the gap between March and WP starting.
I think these will fall under the PFU element of the ADult Skills Budget - tenders either out or about to be released imminently on ACTOR
Some SFA contracts have had a small extension in certain areas and with certain providers. One of these being R2R, so it may be worth digging a little deeper. Sorry I can't be much more help.
Our R2R contract has had an extension so we can continue delivery until the end of May.
This whole situation with DWP and SFA contracts is utterly shambolic; does anybody in the ministries realise that this is no way to treat clients, employers or employees? JCP don't know where to send their clients, clients are being told work being done with them is effectively temporary or are being referred back, many employers have put their staff under consultation (thus demotivating and demoralising them and damaging their relationship)or made them redundant, many other good staff are planning to leave W2W altogether. Employers too are in limbo - they can't plan, budget extend or cancel leases etc etc.
I have no idea how the Rt Hons Grayling and Cable, the ministers ultimately responsible for DWP and SFA, having allowed the majority of contracts to end or enter run off at the same time, can believe that they're doing a good job. Run Government departments? Wouldn't trust either of them to run a bath.
R2R can take referrals until the end of March in most regions but provision has to come to an end by June.
The SFA are commissioning some new ESF provision in 2 phases through ACTOR which may look a little like R2R but with a greater emphasis on jobs and progression into Apprenticeships. This may be used to fund Jobcentre Plus 'Service Academies' according to the latest guidance so it will mean working with JCP customers before they enter the Work Programme.
The first phase should commence in April (next week!) and the second phase in August.
I'd imagine that the success of the first phase will depend on the SFA being able to find the providers who delivered locally successful R2R, 6 Month Offer, ESP & Young Person's Guarantee contracts. Don't know if this is practically possible given the lack of provision detail, local footprint and track record that you were actually able to record on ACTOR.
ACTOR was a bit weird. I'd imagine there's a good chance a ticky boxy bid monkey in Plymouth could score 100% and win a contract in Newcasle having never stepped foot in the place, let alone sampled the quality of Bigg Market bananas. But it's quick and efficient apprently so I'll hold my breath.
Elsewhere, the 14-19 SFA/ESF NEET contracts are meant to have been sent out to successful providers last week and should be starting shortly. Don't know what's happening in Merseyside, Yorkshire and Humber as the bidding process was postponed there.
Don't think there will be any specific funding for Basic Skills. I think colleges and SFA providers will be expected to pick this up as part of their adult learning budgets.
Bob, in the rather childish houses of parliament way 'hear, hear'! The whole things a nightmare! Providers and their employees knees are shaking and the government will learn they will be crying out for our services once they actually grow up and realise that in their naivety they have come in and destroyed alot of things that worked. I think that alot of us are being forced out of the industry which is frustrating as it took me years to become this experienced in it so I could (eventually) demand a reasonable salary- back to the drawing board I think! Career change number 2!
Well, my R2R contract was very successful so I'll look forward to delivering the revised contract next week! As I've said on another post, R2R is a great programme if treated for what it is (learner responsive, not prescribed) and providers use the income to fund additional qualifications and employ good tutors. I presently have very good tutors, who are currently looking for other, more stable, jobs so I hope that the Rt Hon Vince Cable quick steps, signs the contracts off and gets them awarded ASAP before they disappear to better paid jobs training call centre staff customer service or whatever.
Yet another week and still no announcement about Skills Funding Agency funding to fill the need for supporting the newly unemployed before FND or WP kicks in. Maybe this means that us poor sods who did not get much of a look in with the Work Programme bids will be given the crumbs available through SfA on Monday as a booby prize.
Redundancies kicking in across the country whilst organisations are still being paid for contracts, nice!!. At least we can go onto R2R and upgrade our skills set!!
No, I don't think you can, Oscar. It's now too late.
It is now too late Oscar. From what I hear there was also a huge cap on referrals and a massive waiting list so it wouldn't haev been a sure thing anyway :(