Support for those looking for work
This week marks the next steps taken by the Scottish Government to use new powers devolved through the Scotland Act 2016.
These powers relate to employment support and the transitional services – Work First Scotland and Work Able Scotland - will deliver this approach.
As many as 4800 people with health conditions and disabilities will receive help to get into work without the threat of sanctions in the first year of new Scottish employment services.
It is part of an policy to try to take a supportive approach to assisting people into employment without the worry of losing their existing benefits support.
Individuals can volunteer to participate in these services by contacting their local Jobcentre Plus centres.
The 12-month service precede the full devolved service – Fair Start Scotland – which will operate from 2018 for three years.
The newly-devolved powers set out that services will be voluntary, meaning people can participate without risk of sanction by the Department of Work and Pensions.
A total of £20 million additional funding will be available in 2017/18 to ensure continuity of support
Work First Scotland will help up to 3300 disabled people find work and stay in work and Work Able Scotland will help up to 1500 people with long-term health conditions find work and stay in work.
From 2018 Fair Start Scotland is expected to help a minimum of 38,000 people who want to find work.
Contracts are currently out for tender on provision of this service which will be consistent across Scotland but delivered locally over nine contract areas, with the potential to respond to local needs. There will also be on-going work to align with Jobcentre Plus and health services.
Our distinctly Scottish approach will be more flexible and easier to access.
And our priority in the initial year is to provide continuity of support.
The new devolved services will have fairness, dignity and respect at their core, which will create a strong platform for us to build on for the full roll-out in 2018.
In Scotland we will look to ease some of the stress of job hunting by making our services voluntary, which is different to the mandatory arrangements in place for the rest of the UK.
We believe voluntary participation will let us get the best out of people as without the threat of sanctions they will see the services as an opportunity to gain new skills through supportive training.
By aligning our programmes with existing health and social care support we can be more joined up which will ultimately reduce pressure on other public services.
Over the next 12 months we will listen to people who use the services so we can continue to make improvements.
Work First Scotland will be delivered by a number of organisations in the third sector who have a track record of working well with vulnerable people.
Those are Momentum Scotland, Remploy and Shaw Trust. I am confident these organisations will bring the correct approach and message to the delivery of these services which will be of real value to individuals.
It is another example of the Scottish Government using the new powers devolved to us to make a real difference.