Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service (JACS): Outreach Advisory Service: Grant

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A decision made 3 September 2013:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2013-0074
Decision Summary Title:	Grant for JACS Outreach Advisory Service		Date of Decision Summary:	12 August 2013
Decision Summary Author:	Policy Principal		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	NA
Written Report Title:	JACS Outreach Advisory Service		Date of Written Report:	12 August 2013
Written Report Author:	Policy Principal		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service (JACS) – Outreach Advisory Service
Decision(s): The Minister decided that an additional grant should be provided to JACS to enable it to introduce a new proactive, outreach advisory service on a one-year pilot basis.
Reason(s) for Decision: There are indications that some businesses, particularly small businesses, would benefit from additional support to help them address their responsibilities under the Employment (Jersey) Law 2003 (the ‘Employment Law’).The intention is to provide assistance at an early stage in order to avoid employment disputes and remove the perceived barriers to continuing to employ existing staff and employing new staff. The new service is intended to help employers to comply with the essential requirements of the Employment Law. The officer will contact employers to offer impartial, in-house advice and assistance in producing and reviewing essential employment documentation, e.g. employment contracts, pay slips, disciplinary and grievance procedures and other policies and procedures. The outreach service will be available at times and places to suit the employer, including outside of normal office hours, and will be offered typically to those employing ten or fewer employees. An outreach advice service fits well with JACS current role, aims and objectives. A service level agreement with the Social Security Department sets out the further details, including the service and financial reporting requirements, and performance measures to monitor the success of and demand for the service at quarterly intervals during the pilot period.
Resource Implications: The grant will be provided from the existing budget held by the Social Security Department for the Back to Work Programme. A £50,000 grant will be paid to JACS for the provision of this service for one year, to include salary for one officer and all necessary equipment and expenses. A service level agreement makes provision for financial reporting and controls that meet the requirements of the States of Jersey Financial Directions for the Purchasing of Goods and Services (FD 5.1) and for the Management of Grants (FD 5.5).
Action required: Policy Principal to prepare a purchase order and Operations Director to approve the advance payment of the grant upon receipt of an invoice from JACS.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):