September 2017: Touchbase edition 121
Updated 9 March 2020
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1. Welcome
Since launching in November 2016, Disability Confident has gone from strength to strength and this month sees the 5000th employer sign up to the scheme. Further details, along with important news about the ‘Two Ticks’ scheme, can be found in this edition of Touchbase.
This edition also includes information on:
- Universal Credit for landlords
- free job search mentoring
- Movement to Work for young people
- the Personal Support Package – Small Employer Offer
- how employers can offer more work experience opportunities for young jobseekers
- shaping government policy
- the Warm Home Discount Scheme
- the Armed Forces Covenant
As always, we welcome your feedback. Please send your comments and thoughts about Touchbase, including what articles and information you would like to see, to [email protected].
2. Update to the Universal Credit guide for landlords
The Universal Credit and rented housing: guide for landlords has been updated following discussions with landlords.
The guide helps private and social sector landlords understand what they can do to help their tenants prepare to:
- move to the single Universal Credit benefit payment
- pay their housing costs (rent) directly to their landlord
The updated guide includes information about:
- Universal Credit full service
- Universal Credit live service
- matters that landlords said are important to them
3. Free job search mentoring
Steps Ahead Mentoring is a free personalised job search mentoring service provided by jobcentres and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Those who are eligible for the service will receive 6 one-to-one mentoring sessions with volunteer CIPD members.
The service is available to people who are:
- aged 18 to 24
- aged 50 or over (selected areas only)
- parents or carers returning to work (selected areas only)
People do not have to be claiming a benefit to be eligible for the service.
Work coaches should check that eligible people are job-ready and motivated to participate, and invite them to find out more and self-register at www.cipd.co.uk/steps-ahead-mentoring.
4. Movement to Work – opening up opportunities for young people
Movement to Work is a voluntary collaboration of over 250 UK employers who provide work placement opportunities for young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training.
The initiative has delivered over 60,000 work placements in 3 years, in collaboration with delivery partners including Jobcentre Plus and large national charities such as the Prince’s Trust.
Movement to Work has recently launched its online talent platform which gives young people the opportunity to apply directly for work placement opportunities.
5. Personal Support Package - Small Employer Offer
The Small Employer Offer was introduced in June 2017 as part of the Personal Support Package for people with disabilities or health conditions.
Small Employer Advisers are now in place in jobcentres. Their role is to help and encourage local small employers to offer job opportunities to people with disabilities or health conditions.
A package of in-work support is available to both employer and employee when an opportunity is accepted.
The Small Employer Adviser will also help jobcentre colleagues ensure that they take health conditions and access needs into account when making referrals to vacancies or work-experience opportunities.
Find out more about employing disabled people and people with health conditions
6. Major achievements for Disability Confident
TBT Recruitment has become the 5,000th organisation to sign up to the Disability Confident scheme.
Disability Confident is a flagship scheme giving employers the skills and confidence they need to help more disabled people into work.
This significant milestone coincides with The Guinness Partnership becoming the 50th organisation to achieve the status of Disability Confident Leader.
7. Closure of the Disability Symbol ‘Two Ticks’ scheme
The Disability Symbol ‘Two-Ticks’ scheme officially closed on 31 July 2017. The scheme has been replaced by the new Disability Confident scheme.
Stakeholders and employers should no longer refer to the ‘Two -Ticks’ scheme in guidance and information and should not use the ‘Two-Ticks’ logo on:
- stationery
- websites
- social media
8. Following in your footsteps – how are you getting young jobseekers involved in your industry?
Damian Hinds, the Minister of State for Employment, has written the following article which calls on employers to offer more work experience opportunities for young jobseekers.
Our jobs market is booming. And as the latest Employment Statistics showed, we’re experiencing record levels of employment and our lowest unemployment rate since 1975.
But now is not the time to step back. We are looking ahead and preparing to meet the demand of employers investing in Britain.
And there’s one statistic that didn’t make headlines last week that I’m particularly happy about – the proportion of young people who are unemployed and not in full time education has dropped below 5% for the first time.
Continue reading the article on LinkedIn
9. Help shape government policy
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) would like to hear your thoughts on employing people who have had a career break from paid employment to take on a caring responsibility for children or family.
Following the announcement in the Spring Budget 2017 of a £5 million fund to promote ‘returner’ programmes in the public and private sectors, the GEO has launched a public call for evidence to learn how best they can support both returners and employers.
In order to help inform GEO’s work in this area, please share your thoughts and experiences as an employer.
10. Warm Home Discount Scheme goes live for winter 2017/18
The Warm Home Discount Scheme (WHDS) provides certain households at risk of fuel poverty with a one-off £140 discount on their electricity bills.
Pension Credit Guarantee Credit customers will receive a letter by late November advising whether the discount will be applied automatically by their energy supplier, or if they need to contact the WHDS helpline by 31 January 2018 to confirm their eligibility.
A limited number of discounts are available to other low income households.
Non-Pension Credit customers should contact their energy supplier for further information and to make a claim.
11. Sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant: good for the nation, good for business
Our Armed Forces serve our country at home and overseas and deserve fairness and a network of practical support. Over 1,870 big and small businesses, charities and local authorities have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and declared themselves Armed Forces-friendly.
This is more than Corporate Social Responsibility, it’s about attracting hugely talented individuals who are helping make their business stronger.
12. News round-up
Universal Credit – payments and labour market reports published
Employment reaches another record high