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DWP Publishes Work Programme supply chain - 46% VCS Providers
The Work Programme officially launched Friday June 10, anticipating two and a half million people to be supported over the next five years. The launch was accompanied by the publication of the composition of the supply chain where the voluntary sector is better represented than any other with 46% of providers classified as voluntary. You can download the full listing of sub-contractors. |
More information about DWP ESF & Workless Families - Call for Evidence
Ministers have decided that 75% of ESF 2011-2013, over £200 million, should fund family oriented provision for people in workless households. DWP had a call for evidence to contribute to the design of the programme which closed May 6. See the Call for Evidence for more information |
Involvement of VCS with DWP Framework Providers - Survey Results - April 1
More smaller (supporting under 250 people annually) organisations than large organisations were unsuccessful in attempting to be included in a Framework provider's bid. For those included, most felt that Framework Providers asked for too much information and did not, in turn, provide enough financial information. Most felt that the process used to select subcontractors was not open and transparent. See the presentation of the survey results.
TSEN will monitor the experience of subcontractors as the Work Programme progresses. Later this year those organisations included in bids will be asked whether they went on to secure a subcontract.
This builds on our work considering the experience of the voluntary sector involved in the first half (2007-10) of the ESF Programme:
Experience of Third Sector sub-contractors ESF 2007-2010(by CRESR)
Accessing European Social Fund through the DWP Survey (by TSEN) |
TSEN Annual Conference, March 30: Results of VCS involvement in the Work Programme Survey & Presentations
Over 200 delegates attended the event which brought together the key civil servants, VCS representatives and DWP Framework providers. Results of the survey & speaker presentations can be downloaded here. |
Work & Pensions Select Committe Report says 'Work Programme must not neglect the hardest to help' - May 8
The Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, Dame Anne Begg, said:
"We welcome the fact that the Work Programme will offer financial incentives to encourage service providers to support jobseekers who are harder to place in work. However, we remain concerned that these providers may still focus their efforts on the jobseekers who are easiest to help at the expense of those who face greater challenges, such as those with long-term health conditions. We also believe that the programme does not address the risk that there may be discrepancies in the quality of service offered within different regions"
Download the Report |
Work Programme Providers Announced - April 1
ESF Programme 2011 - 2013 Update - Feb 7
Work Programme framework providers were notified on January 28 that ESF would be used under the Work Programme to provide services for additional customer groups not indicated in the Work Programme ItT. ESF will be used for those on Incapacity benefits and income suport.
The notification also indicated that further ESF-funded procurement is currently under development and is expected to focus on providing family-orientated support for people in workless households over the next three years. The timing of this exercise is as yet undecided.
Download the notifcation that went out to Framework Providers |
Work & Pension Select Committee Inquiry - The Work Programme: Providers and Contracting Arrangements
The Work and Pensions Committee is holding an inquiry into the contracting arrangements for the Work Programme and related provider issues.
The deadline for written submissions for this inquiry was Thursday 25 November 2010 and written evidence published so far, is now accessible online. The details and key issues of the inquiry can be found in the terms of reference.
Two oral evidence sessions have been held Jan 12 2011, and Feb 2. Accounts of the evidence sessions can be found on the Work & Pensions Committee website |
Work Programme Invitation to tender released
Available to Work Programme framework providers the ItT gives information about the type and number of benefit recipients which providers in each contract area. DWP are committed to having all contracts in place by Summer 2011.
The Government will not specify what services providers should deliver although are requesting a summary of minimum service levels customers can expect. Download the ItT and see the DWP website for more information. |
Successful Framework Providers announced & Prospectus Released
DWP are using a Framework Agreement to identify organisations capable of delivering its employment related provision. Once on the Framework, organisations will be invited to bid for specific provision opportunities, including DWP’s future ESF CFO contracts.
The Framework was launched on 29 June 2010 and the selection process concluded late November. Download the list of preferred suppliers.
DWP have also published a prospectus which provides more information on the work programme and also feedback from their informal consultation. Download the Prospectus
It is expected that the ESF tender will be released in January 2011.
Read more about the DWP Framework Agreement |
21st Century Welfare - The Work Programme
Existing and new providers will be able to join a new framework contract under The Work Programme. A framework agreement sets the terms and conditions with suppliers under which the procuring body can make specific purchases over the term of the agreement. The competition for the framework programme will commence at the end of June 2010 with providers expected to be identified by November 2010. All current tendering competitions are superseded by the framework agreements establishing the Work Programme.
The Work Programme may be used as match funding for DWP’s European Social Fund Co-financing arrangements and will be divided into eleven lots, the current nine English Regions plus Wales and Scotland. DWP expect to appoint between 3 to 8 providers per lot. Contracts, while not guaranteed values, are expected to be in the range of between £10 to £50 million. The framework agreements will be available to any public sector organisation seeking to procure employment support services such as local authorities or non departmental public bodies.
Freud & Grayling are seeking hundreds of millions of investment from big financial institutions to create a £2 to £3 billion market for welfare to work services. Payment will be according to the number of people into sustainable employment, with providers paid (probably each quarter) as benefit savings accrue. While Freud hopes for 100% payment by results, he suggests that the Government may have to put up some working capital. They are hoping to attract large public services companies which have yet to enter the welfare to work market (such as G4S).
Download further information about the Work Programme
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