Unemployment: Work Placement: Environmental Scheme

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A decision made 16 November 2012:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2012-0091
Decision Summary Title :	Environmental Placement Scheme		Date of Decision Summary:	15 November 2012
Decision Summary Author:	Business Manager		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Environmental Placement Scheme		Date of Written Report:	5 November 2012
Written Report Author:	Operations Director		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Environmental Placement Scheme
Decision(s): The Minister decided to implement a non-statutory Environmental Placement Scheme with effect from 5 November 2012 until 14 December 2012.
Reason(s) for Decision: An Environmental Placement Scheme has been approved in agreement with the Transport and Technical Services Department and the Department for Planning and Environment. This scheme will enable a small number of individuals who are registered with the Social Security Department as actively seeking work to improve their employability through working on environmental activities. The incentive payments will encourage participants to make the best use of the support available to them in terms of improving their employability and supporting them into paid employment. The scheme will ensure that individuals successfully completing the required training and voluntary work placement will receive a payment in respect of their reasonable costs and will further reward young people for successfully completing the 6 week work placement. The scheme commenced on 5 November 2012, and will continue until 14 December 2012. This pilot is expected to establish the basis for further environmental employability schemes and dependent on its success, other schemes may be implemented at a later date.
Resource Implications: There are no manpower implications. The additional administration will be absorbed within existing Social Security processes. The total cost of the pilot scheme is £4,050.00 for the 6 week period in respect of all 9 individuals successfully completing their placement. This cost will be met through existing departmental budget.
Action required: Operations Director to liaise with teams providing support to young jobseekers to provide information on Environmental Placement Scheme and to implement appropriate payment and audit procedures.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Unemployment: Work Placement: Environmental Scheme

Environmental Placement Scheme- Incentive payments

Background

A pilot scheme has been agreed in conjunction with the Transport and Technical Services Department and the Planning and Environment Department to enable a small number of individuals (up to 9) who are registered as Actively Seeking Work to improve their employability through working on environmental activities.

Improvements in employability will be achieved through supporting individuals in obtaining and refreshing basic employability skills: attendance, punctuality, organising themselves in their commute to work, working with others, whilst providing them with a sense of achievement in completing a work which will benefit the community. The scheme will also provide some basic training which is transferable into other roles.

The Incentive payments will support this by ensuring that the Individuals are repaid reasonable costs whilst completing both voluntary work placements and relevant training courses. All the individuals taking part in the pilot will receive an incentive payment each week of £50.00, and a further completion bonus at the end of the six-week period of £150.00. These payments will be in addition to any benefit payments currently being received.

The pilot scheme has been agreed following discussions with the Unite Union representatives at the Transport and Technical Services Department.

The pilot is expected to help establish the basis for further environmental employability schemes.

Basis of Scheme

This is a non-statutory scheme. As such the scheme can be amended or withdrawn without notice by the Minister for Social Security.

The pilot runs for 6 weeks from Monday 5 November until Friday 14 December 2012.

Impact on household benefit claims

Any payments received through the pilot are disregarded for the purpose of calculating any Income Support household benefit entitlement.

Pilot Eligibility Criteria

To be part of the pilot individuals must:

Be registered with the Social Security Department as Actively Seeking Work
Have a current Job Seekers Agreement
Be aged between 18 and 25
Have completed a bank details form for electronic payment

Be locally qualified for work

Pilot Incentive Payment Rules

Successful completion and payment eligibility is confirmed by the Mentor assigned to the Pilot. This will also be based on feedback from the Transport and Technical Services Rangers and Trainers as appropriate.
All payments are made in arrears.
The decision by the Mentor is final.
No payments will be made to those in breach of Actively Seeking Work regulations e.g. non attendance without good cause.
There are no rights of appeal.

Pilot weekly Incentive Payment

Payment of £50.00 per week made in arrears for each week successfully completed.
A maximum of 6 x £50.00 weekly payments can be made to an individual.
Non-attendance without good cause is a breach of Actively Seeking Work regulations. This will trigger the Failed Job Seekers process, if appropriate. The weekly payment for the week and the Completion Bonus would also be forfeited.

Pilot Scheme Completion Bonus

Following successful completion of the 6 week pilot a bonus payment of £150.00 is payable.
Non-attendance without good cause is a breach of Actively Seeking Work regulations. This will trigger the Failed Job Seekers process, if appropriate. The payment for the week and the Completion Bonus would also be forfeited.

Data Protection/Exchange of information

Explicit permission to share information is already included in the Jobseekers Agreement.

Payment information will be held by the Social Security Department to enable payments to be made.

Payment Process

All payments will be made;

By the Social Security Department.
In arrears.
By BACS to a bank account (i.e. no cheques or cash).

Audit

Records will need to be available to any auditors as required.

Value of Incentive Payments

The total cost of this incentive payment scheme for 9 people completing the pilot successfully will be £4,050.00.