Clean Slate and Housing Providers Progressing practical responses

Clean Slate and Housing Providers Progressing practical responses to worklessness Jeff Mitchell

Progressing Responses l Introducing Clean Slate l Context l Practical steps for housing providers l Worklessness in the supply chain

Introducing. . . l JM: 18 years in social enterprise l Creating and supporting paid work for people facing barriers to employment Employment business with regular (Somer, Bath Abbey) and ad hoc opportunities Ø Walk-in centres offering job preparation Ø Supporting employers/ new enterprises, Quids in! Ø l Event in October to engage RPs

(Perceived) Barriers l Costs: Support, returning to work, housing l Culture change: addressing tenants/ worklessness l ‘One Size Fits All’ approach, not longterm l Fewer jobs – and access (geographic/ cultural/ skills/ confidence/ practical, eg, CRBs)

Welfare Reform (Crisis pres) l Work Programme on-stream – no NFP delivery l Pushing claimants towards JSA, later… l Universal Credit – with taper for returners to work l LHA revised down, Single Room Rate aged <35 l £ 500 cap on household claims l Social rents up to 80% market rate

Financial Exclusion l Quids in!: Money management magazine for people on low incomes l Merlin research (South Glos) – now national l Key findings (see handout): 42% working age and able to work; 31% are ‘unbanked’ Ø Biggest money worry: Paying bills (54%); Debt (24%) Ø

Engaging Workless People l ‘Job Shops’ with self-referral, drop-in access l 350 visitors seeking help with CVs, job search l Accessible: communitybased and peer support l Structured programme to work into the process

Getting On the Job l Not the Work Programme: Ø CVs: Resumes are not fit for purpose Ø Building on skills and qualities, often buried Ø IT a pre-requisite – practical application Ø Role playing expectations Ø Setting appropriate, personalised goals Ø Bespoke action plans Ø Employment – seeing skills at work

Aspiring to More l Worklessness research: 60% looking for work Ø 8% had no plans for work Ø Money the motivation Ø Interest in all kinds of work incl. ‘wet trades’, shop, office, animals and support work Ø

Somer Pilot l Somer Housing inspired to engage with combating worklessness. Clean Slate entered supply chain: Packing and delivery Ø Supplying Clean Slate workers as temps Ø Employability projects engaging workless people Ø Handy Help Co (pilot underway) – looking at retro-fitting and (with Quids in!) engaging low income households Ø

Working Together l Looking for employers with a clear social remit: Ø Ø Ø 3 managers x 2 Temp Workers x 3. 5 hrs pw CSTE supports Temp Workers and supervisors with job matching, induction work and coaching Individuals prove and improve their employability Low hassle, low risk, low cost to employers Value: Flexible, additional capacity

Work Steps l Back to Work events, emp’ support for tenants l Signposting to existing opportunities l Shared resources on best practice l ‘Step Path’ for people at different places l Introduce Clean Slate to the supply chain – Temp Workers, Handy. Help, distribution/ packing l Decision-making: Buy-in and approval

Clean Slate in B&NES Progressing practical responses to worklessness Jeff Mitchell