Indus Delta Welfare to Work Newswire - 26 April 2012

Parkhouse Bell is a recruitment consultancy that provides a confidential and specialist service across all levels within the welfare to work industry.  For more information visit our website or our dedicated jobs page on Indus Delta.

Latest News

Rise in employers checking credit files during recruitment

Employers are increasingly checking the credit files of potential employees during the recruitment process, according to financial information service Call Credit. 

Read more here.

Shortlisted bidders for new disability tests

Ten of the UK’s largest outsourcing companies have been shortlisted to deliver new disability assessments for the Personal Independence Payments that will replace Disability Living Allowance from April 2013. 

Read more here.

Government representation of 'troubled families' is a factoid, new report claims

A new report has argued that the government's representation of 'troubled families' is a factoid, or something which takes the form of a fact but is not one. From an investigation into reports and analyses on which current rhetoric on the 120,000 'troubled families' is based, the Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK argues that the Coalition government is misrepresenting the research background around disadvantaged families. 

Read more here.

L&D professionals urged to force change after survey finds employers clinging to outdated methods of training

Britain’s employers rely on outdated methods and techniques to provide training to their staff, according to a new survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development launched on 25 April at HRD, the Institute’s annual learning and talent development conference.

Read more here.

Online tool simplifies hiring demands for first-time employers

A new online toolkit was launched on 25 April by Employment Relations Minister Norman Lamb, which provides first-time employers with a step-by-step guide through their obligations when taking on a member of staff.

Read more here.

Latest Access to Work Statistics

The latest data on Access to Work show that the number of people that the scheme helped reached 27,420 individuals in the period from April 2011 to December 2011. There were 15,780 individuals continuing to benefit in the period April 2011 to December 2011.

Read more here.

Latest ESA assessment figures show majority fit to work

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show that 54 per cent of people who go through the Work Capability Assessment are found fit for some form of work.

Read more here.

Jobcentre Plus vacancies

On Easter Monday, the Guardian published a series of articles on Jobcentre Plus vacancies.

It had obtained an extract of the vacancy database for 22 February through the Freedom of Information Act.

Read more here.

Prime Minister vows that Apprenticeships will be seen as a rewarding alternative to university for young people

David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has promised to tackle snobbery against vocational education and ensure Apprenticeships are seen as a rewarding alternative to university for young people.

Read more here.

Public increasingly concerned about unemployment, Ipsos Mori poll reveals

For the first time since 1998, two in five members of the public consider unemployment to be a major issue in Britain.

Read more here.

Stakeholder bulletin - updating on the commercial process

Here is the statement from Maria Miller, Minister for Disabled People, on the government's response to the Sayce review.

Read more here.

Listings of the week

LAST AND FINAL CALL | EOI Closing Date tomorrow | Welfare to Work UK 2012

10 to 11 July

ICC, Birmingham

Up to 1,000 delegates from across the UK and internationally, gather to hear the latest developments, share experiences and discuss best practice in welfare to work. 

We all need to know about what is working, innovation in policy and delivery, and how welfare reform will affect us. The Work Programme is one year old, what have been the lessons of the first year? 

The Convention plays a unique role in bringing together all those who deliver services, with the aim of informing, debating and effecting change. The easiest way to register is online by clicking here.

Our call for papers and workshops still open!

Do you do something differently that you could share with our Convention audience? Inclusion is looking for innovative case studies and proposals for policy seminars. Our call for papers and workshops is open to all sector professionals, policy makers, academics, employers, prime providers, and organisations working as subcontractors in the government's Work Programme. You must submit your paper/workshop online.

Apply online at www.cesi.org.uk/convention

For more information about this year’s exhibition and sponsorship please contact the Events Team on or by email at 

*closing date for submissions Friday 27 April, 2012. Please review our submission guidelines on-line.

Families, communities, places: a new way forward for delivery

22nd May 2012

Blackburne House, Liverpool

An Inclusion North West Convention

About the event

The public sector policy and funding climate has signalled a shift from the traditional model of community regeneration. The current economic climate makes this an urgent mission. This conference will provide Government, Public Service and Community insight into the reality of the shift from:

• Area Based Initiatives to Community Budgets
• Reactive agency and thematic deliv ery to integrated prevention and early intervention
• Top down plans and programmes to communities in control

You will leave with a better understanding of: how employment and skills is key in supporting families, communities and places; some new ideas on what a scalable model of delivery in the new world could look like; and lots of helpful contacts!

The Convention will aim to cover the following hot topics:

• Community Regeneration
• Public Sector and Welfare Reform
• Community Budgets
• Troubled and Complex Families initiatives
• Social and Economic Inclusion in deprived areas
• Strategic Commissioning
• Integrated Service delivery

Who should attend

• Local Government officers and elected members
• Police
• Probation
• Health
• Housing
• Jobcentre Plus
• Work Programme Primes and Providers
• ESF employment programme providers
• Colleges, training and learning providers
• Voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations
• Regeneration bodies

  Registration will commence at 9:30 on Tuesday 22 May with the opening session at 10:30. The conference will conclude at 16:30.

Read more on the Inclsion website. 

London Skills and Employment Convention 29th May 2012

One London: Localising delivery in a new economic and social reality

Early booking discounts available until 27 April 2012.

Church House Conference Centre, London

About the event 

London is the engine of the UK economy, but many are not benefitting. Around one in three Londoners are out of work. London has the highest level of income inequality in the UK and more children living in poverty than anywhere else in Europe. In conjunction with this, we have now entered a new economic and social reality where growth is subdued and austerity and cuts prevail.

London’s Employment and Skills Convention, (less than a month after the Mayoral election), will bring together employers, delivery agencies, policy makers and organisations representing Londoners under one roof to discuss London’s challenges and opportunities in light of the prevailing challenges
This Convention offers a unique chance to: understand the latest policy and delivery developments in London; identify the growth opportunities; share ideas and come together to discuss how best to help all Londoners into sustainable jobs and to improve their skills, so that they too can share in London’s growth.

The London Skills and Employment Observatory and Inclusion will be working in partnership on the Convention programme. More details will be published shortly

 Themes

• Local perspectives on jobs and growth

• Provision working locally

• From riots to social inclusion

• London’s future

• Skills and advancement

Who should attend

In conjunction with the London Skills and Employment Observatory, this event brings together people who commission, design and deliver employment and skills services in the capital. It is a unique opportunity to find out the latest developments in London, share ideas and information and determine how to deliver more for less.

If you wish to submit a session or are intereted in sponsorship and exhibition please email .