Agenda item

The Chair welcomed Shane Byrne, Partnership Manager and Tracey Ellmore,
Senior Partnership Manager (East Lancashire) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to present to the committee on following topics:

·  Lancashire Youth Hubs

·  Plan for Jobs

·  The Restart Scheme

·  The Kickstart Scheme

Since January 2020, the External Scrutiny Committee had embarked on a themed review of Universal Credit in Lancashire with a specific focus to identify the key issues faced by the Department for Work and Pensions in the roll out of Universal Credit and helping the people of Lancashire.

Comments and questions from the committee after the presentation were as follows:

·  It was clarified that clients could attend the nearest youth hub for them if there was not one in their immediate local area.

·  The DWP were working closely with rural based hospitality employers to fill job vacancies. One example provided was an event which invited both employers and DWP customers. This was cancelled due to current Coronavirus complications. There was a dedicated employment advisor who supported hospitality employers to fulfil these roles supported by the Kickstart scheme.

·  A new youth hub was due to open in Fleetwood hospital within the next few weeks.

·  Concerns were raised about prison leavers. It was explained that payment could be made into post office accounts. Prison work coaches had returned full-time into the prison environments, and they would make emergency appointments at the Job Centre for any prison leaver leaving custody.

·  It was questioned why prison leavers could not make advanced claims. It was understood that it was not within the Universal Credit platform, but members asked for this to be raised at policy level within the DWP and feedback to the committee.

·  In relation to safeguarding new customers during the six-week wait for new claims, the DWP offered an advance payment from day one. Their partner voluntary organisations were also looked to, to support these customers during this period. There was also the Flexible Support Fund and Household Support Fund which the DWP would offer to provide support. Members asked for this topic to be raised at policy level within the DWP to improve and cut down the six-week wait.

·  Members congratulated the Kickstart scheme. It was noted that the scheme would come to an end in March 2022.

·  In terms of the DWP evaluating the Kickstart scheme, it was expected for the evaluation to be published. There would also be a further evaluation by the National Audit Office, which the DWP would use to move forward.

·  It was explained that opinions had changed positively since the first digital offer and partners were asking for Attendance Allowance to now be moved online. The digital offer was the way forward for the DWP, whilst protecting the customers who did not have any access.

·  In response to the request for data on how customers approach claiming benefits, there was a portal called Stat-Xplore which members could access. The DWP also asked for feedback from their partner organisations.

·  With regards to safeguarding vulnerable customers who could not make digital claims themselves, there was a Visiting Officer team who would go out to customer's homes rather than them needing to appoint someone to act on their behalf. Details of the Visiting Officer team would be shared with the committee.

·  It was clarified that during the DWP Procurement process, social value was a large consideration and a key value.

·  Members asked for details of the DWP Partnership Team to be shared with the committee.

·  For people who had no recourse to public funds or could no longer work due to ill-health but could not access Universal Credit or apply for a pension, the DWP relied on the Home Office as a lead organisation and ed with third-sector organisations to help these customers obtain residency to open these funds. Concerns were also raised for those migrant workers from Europe who had a five-year visa and became ill during that period. It was highlighted that people in these circumstances were eligible for some support such as carers allowance, but Universal Credit. 

·  On whether there was scope for utility companies to access DWP vulnerable customer data when responding to emergency situations to help identify those people in need of assistance, it was reported that the DWP would not disclose an individual's details. The DWP actively promoted the support offer from the utility companies to help people manage their bills. As a possible fix, it was suggested that utility companies share any information with the DWP, so they could cascade information to their customers in the impacted areas.

·  On how the DWP are coping with Coronavirus restrictions, the Job Centre's had always been open throughout the pandemic. It was noted that the DWP took the safety of their staff and customers as paramount. They did not require for proof of tests or vaccination before customers visit centres.

·  In terms of targeting youth unemployment at the end of Kickstart and potential further education or vocational training, it was clarified that a replacement for Kickstart was not expected until earliest May 2023. Currently, the focus would be skills training to get customers into the job vacancies available.

·  It was clarified that when the DWP started Kickstart, there was a lot of scrutiny on new employers to ensure they were not looking for cheap labour from young people.

·  It was explained that throughout any Kickstart opportunity via the appointed Work Start Coach, if the young person was found to be performing a role different from the employer's description this was picked up immediately.

Members thanked Tracey and Shane for their presentation and answers to the committee's questions.

Actions:

·  DWP to share details of the Visiting Officer team and Partnership team with the committee.

Resolved: That the Department for Work and Pensions' representatives be asked to raise the following matters at policy level within the department and feedback to the committee on potential support for:

  i.  Help for migrant workers during periods of ill health;

  ii.  Improving and reducing the six-week wait for new customers with new claims; and 

  iii.  Advance payments for prison leavers.