Session 4. Case Studies of Effective Approaches (2)

Working in partnership

- Simon Richards, Sheffield Homes

Tackling Worklessness

• Sheffield - place and people • Sheffield Homes – why we matter • Providing jobs • Providing training and support• Providing opportunity• What happens next? • Thoughts, challenges and questions

Sheffield - place and people

• 520,000+ city population • Increasingly diverse • 14% BME and rising • Low Economic Activity Rate

Sheffield - place and people Social Housing and Economic Activity

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Economicactivity rate

% pop insocialhousing

Sheffield Homes – why we matter

• Manage 42,000 council properties – 57% Tenants over 50 – 43% Tenants over 60 – 35% Tenants with disability

• Employ 1200+ staff • 232 vacancies advertised in 07/08• Big enough to make a difference!

Providing jobs

Five commitments • Inform Jobcentre + of all

vacancies• Regular ‘keep in touch’

meetings with Jobcentre + • Inform Jobcentre + of Job Fairs• Attend Jobcentre + events• Advertise ‘entry level’

vacancies as ‘New Deal only’

Local Employer Partnership

Providing jobs

‘Headstart’ initiative• Long term unemployed• Work with training provider • Two week bespoke training - managers input• Guaranteed interview• Commit to fill set number of vacancies

Providing jobs

‘Headstart’ initiative • Dec 06

- Six Neighbourhood Wardens• Feb 07

- Two Administrative Assistants• July 07

- Four Neighbourhood Wardens• Nov 07

- Three Customer Service Assistants• April 08

- Two Administrative Assistants• All 17 people still in post

Providing jobs

“After being unemployed for 13 years I had a lack of confidence about trying to get back into work

and thought no one would ever want to employ me”.

“However JobCentre Plus helped to restore my confidence. I knew what to expect from the

interview. All the training was provided and I felt supported all the way. I’m really enjoying my job

now and the benefits of a regular wage.”

Frank Campbell, Sheffield Homes Neighbourhood Warden, recruited via the LEP in 2007

Providing training and support

Working with Remploy • National and Local Awards in recognition of

partnership working• Monthly meet up - inform them of all vacancies• Visits to groups of their clients to tell them about jobs• Provide work placements to clients• Guaranteed interviews if minimum specification met• Provide feedback to applicants• Attend training events and fairs with other employers

Providing training and support

BME trainee scheme • Housing Officer level – recruited to vacancies in

company• 2 trainees 07/08 – 3 in 08/09• Eligibility

- BME- Unemployed- Living in Sheffield

• On and off the job training• Certificate in Housing Management - Hallam

University

Providing training and support

City Stewardship • Targeted at disaffected or disengaged 16-18 year olds –

‘NEETs’• Partnership – Kier, Council, Connexions, Police, • Provide employability skills – hard and soft• Delivers services to city, communities and residents• 300 + learners each year• Move on - jobs, apprenticeships, FE and Training• Over 60% positive progression rate

Providing training and support

City Stewardship Trainees clearing up after the floods

Providing training and support

Construction JOBMatch

• ‘One stop shop’ – - Funding – £12 + million private/ public- Recruiting – 380+ trainees over 4 years - Accrediting – NVQ 2 - Monitoring / supporting trainee

• Targeted at disadvantaged • Two year training contract • Partnership – Council, Kier, Decent Homes Contractors • Demand led – employers / employees

Providing training and support

Construction JOBMatch

• 33% BME • 7% Women • 86% over 22• 37% over 30• 51% drawn from most deprived areas• 80% completed training

Providing training and support

Construction Job Match Trainees celebrating 250 trainees into programme last October

Providing opportunity

‘Pathways to Employment’ • National Government initiative • South Yorkshire – 1 of 15 pilot areas• Supports Sheffield City Strategy• Work and Skills Board • DWP / LSC / ESF funding

Providing opportunity

‘Pathways to Employment’• Targeted on

– Lone Parents – Incapacity Benefit recipients – BME – Carers

• Main providers now agreed • Sheffield Homes - Partner in 2 sub contractor bids

Providing opportunity

‘Pathways to Employment’• 5 stage engagement / delivery model

1.Community engagement

2. Information advice and guidance

3.Key worker support

4.Employability and vocational skills

5.Employer engagement

What happens next?

• Working with Housing Associations, Council, DWP, Voluntary sector providers

• Share what we are all doing – adding value• Explore joint working – employment and training,

awareness raising • Work collaboratively to engage with delivery of

‘Pathways’ initiative

What happens next?

• Job Points in housing offices? • Co-location - housing / employment • Facilitating referrals • Hosting Key Workers in housing offices• Develop training programme to raise awareness of front

line housing staff

Thoughts, challenges and questions

• Should we be doing this? • Costs of not doing it? • Capacity to do it?• Capability to do it? • Partnership is key • It’s complex! • Unique Selling Point – access to our tenants• Enabling choice - not colluding with coercion• Questions?