Jobcentre Plus help including the Work Programme

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Work Programme is designed to help people get back to work under the 'Get Britain Back to Work' initiative and the reform of the welfare system. It:

• helps you into jobs that last by encouraging training providers to support you in work.
• offers flexible support to meet your needs

Local providers involved in the Work Programme are Best, Ingeus, A4E and Pinnacle

Who will be eligible for the work programme and EXPECTED to join?

Anyone on Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) who:

• is aged 25 or over who has been claiming JSA for 12 months or more.
• is aged between 18 and 24 who has been claiming JSA for nine months or more.
• has moved from claiming Incapacity Benefit and has been looking for work for at least three months.
• is seriously disadvantaged by one or more factors and has been looking for work for at least three months.

Anyone on Employment Support Allowance (ESA - income related) who is:

• expected to be fit for work within three months.
• on ESA and would like to voluntarily join.

Anyone on Incapacity Benefit/Income Support who WANTS to join

Work Clubs help people who are out of work set up a group where they can 'exchange skills and share experiences' - list of local work clubs (52kb Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Skills Support for Redundancy (SSR) - individual advice and guidance; 'Skills Experience Analysis'; help with CVs; job search support; funding for tailored vocational training and other help with removing 'barriers to taking up employment'. SSR is for people who are under threat of redundancy or who have recently been made redundant and have been unemployed for less than six months.
The local providers are: JHP and Barnsley College

Rapid Response Fund - you must have been made redundant and have been registered unemployed for less than 13 weeks. If there is no other relevant provision they may be able to apply for funding towards a short training course to help them return to employment or self-employment

Skills Support for Unemployed (SSU) - skills and employability training available for people who are unemployed and not eligible for other Jobcentre Plus programmes.
The local providers are: JHP and Barnsley College

Adult Skills provision - short training courses for people on 'inactive' benefits who are unemployed and looking for work. Courses include:

• Basic Skills
• Business Admin
• Construction
• Customer Service
• ESOL
• Health and Social Care
• Hospitality/Catering
• IT
• Logistics and Warehouse
• Manufacturing
• Retail
• Sales and Marketing
• Security

The local providers are: Calderdale College and Kirklees College (known as Future Focus)

Work Together - voluntary opportunities to improve your chances of finding a job.

Work Experience for between two and eight weeks, if you are aged between 18 and 21, have been unemployed and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for at least 13 weeks, and have little or no previous experience of work.

New Jobcentre Plus programmes which may be available:

• Sector-based Work Academies offering a maximum of six weeks pre-employment training, work experience placement and a guaranteed interview in a main employment sector for people aged over 18 on Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment Support Allowance and in the 'work-related activity group'.
• a four week Work Activity programme of up to 30 hours a week, based in the community for people who need help getting used to work.
• Enterprise Allowance for people looking to start a business.