GGHT Good Practice ‘distinctions’

DNA Accreditation2012

A

Strategy to address Worklessness within GGHT properties

Context – What are we seeking to achieve?

GGHT’s aim is to create neighbourhoods where people want to live. A critical element in achieving this is raise the income levels of individuals within those neighbourhoods, by increasing the numbers of individuals within the neighbourhood to employment

Aims - Who and where should our interventions be?

Warrington Borough Council (WBC) has an agenda to ‘Close the Gap’ to address disparities evidenced by the indices of social deprivation, between the wards within the borough. WBC has identified18 – 24 year olds as a priority group.

GGHT through the experience gained through the Future Jobs Fund (FJF) is keen to focus on the18 -24 year olds, as not only do they represent the potential tenants of the future, but they currently represent the highest proportion of unsustained tenancies and complaints due to incidents of antisocial behaviour.

Interventions:

  • Training tenants in Employability and Personal Development skills:

Offering courses at Warrington Collegiate or other community venues.

Setting up a Construction Sector Based Work Academy – joining together construction companies in Warrington to offer pre-employment opportunities to tenants.

Promoting“Can Do” Clubs & “Work Clubs” in the local area:

  • Providing tenants and residents with individual support to gain and secure employment through GGHT delivery ofthe Work Programme.
  • Recruitment for entry level jobs to targeted at tenants/residents:

Trainee programme within GGHT similar to FJF.

GGHT recruitment for labourers, caretakers and admin roles ring fenced for tenants and residents.

Small and Medium Enterprise opportunities identified within Warrington are advertised to tenants and residents

  • Employment and recruitment of tenants linked to our procurement:

Capital Investment programme and other programmes to regenerate Warrington.

Cyclical re-tenders for new contracts to provide services to GGHT are subsequently required to support GGHT’s strategy on Worklessness.

  • Apprenticeships within GGHT targeted at tenants/residents.
  • Provision of work experience/ placement opportunities either within GGHT or via other organisations:

Utilisation of the work experience scheme through DWP’s “Get Britain Working” programme targeted to deliver community based projects.

Potential GGHT ‘intern’ programme for unemployed recent graduates.

Finances and funding

  • Currently funds available include the “Train to Gain” scheme for Employability and Personal Development Skills training, which provides learners with a Level 2 qualification.
  • Learners on a Construction Sector Based Work Academy are self-funded and there is no impact on their receipt of state benefits.
  • The Work Programme is match funded by the European Social Fund.
  • An application to the DWP’s “Flexible Support Fund” might support a training programme to enable individuals to undertake the GGHT Trainee programme.
  • Skills Levy applied to new contractors, ranging in value and linked to contract values procured via GGHT.
  • Apprenticeships are part or fully funded (dependent on age of the individual) by the National Apprenticeship Service
  • Work Experience placements are self-funded.

Outcomes

a)Increase the number of tenants/residents engaged on Employability and Personal Development Skills training available.

b)Link to the promotion of careers and opportunities within GGHT.

c)Promote other Construction Sector Based Work Academy to tenants.

d)Increase promotion of the existence of Work Clubs & Can Do Clubs.

Linked to the promotion of careers and opportunities within GGHT.

e)Increase the number of tenants who gain employment through GGHT Work Programme.

f)Increase the percentage of tenants who are successful in reaching the final stages of selection for apprentice roles.

g)Protocols established with new contractors which are directly linked to the overall strategy of the physical and social regeneration of Warrington.

Increase review and monitoring of contractor performances against commitments made

h)Offer “Application Best Practice” workshops in Bewsey & Whitecross, Orford, Fairfield & Howley, Poulton North and Poplars & Hulme to increase the number and quality of applications

Link to the promotion of careers and opportunities within GGHT.

i)Increase the numbers of work placements available:.

Increase the number of opportunities within GGHT.

Increase the number of opportunities for work placements in other organisations.