ERSA takes practical steps to help Work Programme sub-contractors

Streamlining contract terms between primes and sub-contractors will be one of the key issues which the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) will be taking forward following the first meeting of its new Supply Chain Forum.

Evidence from the forum will be used to help inform and shape the development and operation of the Merlin Standard, via ERSA’s membership of the Merlin Board. The Merlin Standard has been developed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the welfare to work industry to recognise and promote sustainable excellence and positive partnership working within supply chains.

Open to all ERSA member organisations from all sectors, the new Supply Chain Forum provides the opportunity for providers to share their experiences of working as supply chain partners in the welfare to work industry and is focussed on the development of best practice in supply chain management and delivery.

Kirsty McHugh, Chief Executive of ERSA said:

“As the representative body for the welfare to work sector, ERSA is committed to raising standards across the welfare to work industry. The purpose of the forum is to take practical steps to improve the experience of sub-contractors in the Work Programme and other employment services contracts. The forum does not look at the experience of sub-contractors in isolation but is open to all ERSA members, including prime contractors, in order to develop workable solutions for the entire industry.

“The first meeting of the supply chain forum suggested there were some concerns about DWP terms being passed down the supply chain which may not always be appropriate for sub-contractors. Some sub-contractors reported incurring higher than necessary costs due to the different contract terms presented to them by prime contractors, which could have been reduced by some standardisation. As an immediate priority, the forum will therefore explore whether it is possible to streamline contract terms to improve the experience for sub-contractors.”

Attendees at the meeting also reported having to fill in multiple Expression of Interest forms and therefore the forum will also explore whether there is some scope to introduce some element of standardisation. Future activity will focus on exploring effective ways of evidencing the customer journey of those furthest away from employment and further developing ERSA’s Code of Conduct and Shared Promise on Customer Care.