26 September 2005 - Jobcentre Plus to work closer with voluntary and community sector
David Blunkett today announced his intention to ensure Jobcentre Plus works more closely in partnership with the voluntary and community sector.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said he was determined to make sure communities were at the heart of plans to help those facing the greatest barriers in society get into work and transform their lives.
“We have one of the best labour markets in the world and Jobcentre Plus has already played a major role in helping those with the greatest barriers to overcome them and get into the workplace.
“If people want to re-enter the labour market and escape dependence, we should support them, and I want the voluntary sector in particular to help us do that. They have the commitment, expertise, and local knowledge to help us change lives and turn around communities.
"That is why today I can announce that every Jobcentre Plus district manager will be asked to look at developing imaginative partnerships with the voluntary and community sector. Not to replace existing services but to provide additional flexible approaches, such as mentoring, support for those entering work, and help with ex-offenders or drug misusers.
“Ensuring that the community itself is part of the solution is vital in making it easier for those on benefit to rebuild confidence, for example with volunteering as a stepping stone into work and social contact."
Notes to editors:
- The Department, along with Jobcentre Plus, is working to make sure procurement processes are less burdensome for providers – for example by making more use of e-procurement processes. DWP will take steps to encourage the involvement of VCS providers in this process.
- The partnership model involves local organisations – either in the VCS or the public sector – working with us to deliver services to our customers.
- DWP also has very strong links with the VCS as stakeholders, and invests significant effort managing relationships with them, and consulting with them on policy and operational issues at national level.
- Following a recommendation in the Russell Commission’s report, published at the time of the last Budget, Jobcentre Plus is developing a simple rule book that can be shared with VCS organisations, to help them better understand the rules and provide more detailed explanations to their volunteers.
- DWP is looking at experiments in this country and overseas to build on and expand, including lessons learnt from the pathways to work pilots.
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