Transform back to work help for unemployed vulnerable people with a first step capability assessment, says St Mungo’s

21 June 2010

Update - an Early Day Motion supporting our Action Week tabled in Parliament (EDM 293).

With cuts looming and unemployment at a 15 year high, a St Mungo's report out today urges the Government to adopt a two stage back-to-work system for long term unemployed and vulnerable people as part of its radical wider welfare to work reforms.

The report "Work Matters", paints a stark picture of inadequate support provided for homeless men and women by current mainstream services, and suggests a pre-Jobcentre Plus package and basic capability assessment to help them become 'job ready'.

The report will be presented to MPs and policymakers at a Parliamentary reception today to mark the start of St Mungo's 'Just the Job' Action Week.

It recommends the new Government introduce a two stage approach - firstly, a basic capability test, followed secondly, by specialist skills training and employability support to help people to the point where they are 'job ready'.

St Mungo's provides accommodation for around 1,500 homeless people in hostels and supported housing projects across London and the South. In 1983 86% of the charity's clients were in work. Today, only 4% are in employment, two thirds have been out of work for five years or more, and, more worryingly, around 15% have never worked at all. Over half of St Mungo's clients do not have the basic literacy skills required to get a job.

Charles Fraser, St Mungo's Chief Executive, said: "Something has gone drastically wrong for Britain's homeless men and women seeking work over the last 25 years. In that time politicians of all hues have pledged their commitment to "the most vulnerable members of our society". Yet this pledge has been systematically betrayed as far as the employment prospects of our residents are concerned.

"The paradox we face is that unemployment is perpetuated by an over-complicated benefits system, and an over-simplified back-to-work programme."

The "Work Matters" report includes 43 peer research interviews with and by St Mungo's homeless clients, as well as findings from a survey distributed among St Mungo's 1,500 residents. They reveal that:

  • Only 11% of those surveyed agreed with the statement that 'Jobcentre Plus had offered them work which suits them well'. Majority were either negative about the work they'd been offered or hadn't been offered work.
  • Less than a third (28%) felt that Jobcentre Plus staff understand their housing needs
  • 41% felt unsupported around their health needs
  • 18% found Jobcentre Plus training useful. That compared to 78% who rated St Mungo's own employment support services as useful

One St Mungo's resident in their first year on Job Seekers Allowance said: "All the courses that I have to do is [sic] difficult... the pressure, it's too much. It's like breathing under water - it's hard to maintain normality." Another commented: "They have not offered any training. I think if they worked hard, they can help me."

The report recommends that Jobcentre Plus acts as a gateway for people to specialised services. On first contact, JSA and ESA claimants would be given a capability assessment with respect to their basic skills, their mental and physical health and access to adequate housing. Clients not meeting this initial assessment would then be referred on to a specialist organisation in the voluntary, community or private sector that would be responsible for commissioning the support they need.

The new Government is talking about "radical" welfare reforms. With cuts across national and local government on the way, however, St Mungo's urged ministers not to falter in investing in the challenge to successfully move those furthest from the job market into work.

Charles Fraser said: "What we're advocating in this report is a way to help long term unemployed homeless people into work step by step so they are neither trapped nor 'parked' by existing services. Keeping our clients unemployed costs a lot more than helping them back to work. The Government must have the courage to pursue a subtle strategy, looking at long term gain for individuals who otherwise have nothing."

Sonia Sodha, the report's author and Head of the Public Finance programme at Demos, said: "Welfare to work only works if it helps people to develop the everyday skills they need to hold down a job. There needs to be as much focus on welfare as there is on work if people are to be helped into long term, sustainable jobs rather than cycling off and on benefits.

"At the moment, the contracting rules for welfare to work are stacked against charities. The Big Society dream will only be realised if the new coalition Government tackles this disadvantage head-on."

Alongside "Work Matters", St Mungo's is also launching a short report, "Just the Job". This summarises what the charity sees as the key issues around homelessness and employability. St Mungo's recommends that the Government immediately:

  • Takes responsibility for homeless people's poor employment record and commissions a cross-Departmental Government strategy to tackle worklessness among the most vulnerable in society.
  • Re-routes money from large contractors to the voluntary and community sector and other specialist organisations which have the skills and a track record in supporting homeless and vulnerable people into work.
  • Targets support to address basic skills among long term unemployed people. Without the first step of basic levels of skills, no amount of sanctions or conditionality are going to get people into work.

ENDS

NOTES

Monday 21 June, 3pm, Houses of Parliament - the "Work Matters" report will be presented to MPs and policymakers by St Mungo's clients and staff at a reception to mark the start of St Mungo's Action Week. This year Action Week focuses on Just the Job - supporting homeless people's journey into work.

  • For more information, spokesperson comment or to request a hard copy of either report, please contact Gemma Hollingshead on 020 8762 5570 or email gemma.hollingshead@mungos.org or Judith Higgin on 020 8762 5645 or email Judith.higgin@mungos.org
  • St Mungo's opens doors for homeless people. We run emergency services, support homeless people in their recovery, and work to prevent homelessness.
  • Demos is an independent think tank focused on power and politics. They develop and spread ideas to give people more power over their own lives. Demos' vision is of a democracy of powerful citizens with an equal stake in society. Demos was commissioned by St Mungo's to carry out the research. Recommendations from the findings were written by St Mungo's.
  • During Action Week around 50 activities are being organised by St Mungo's clients or staff. Throughout the year St Mungo's supports homeless people back into work via

Activities - from life skills courses to art, drama or creative writing groups to help with social and personal skills, improve health and wellbeing and boost people's self-esteem and confidence

Education - from literacy and numeracy courses to various certified courses in, for example, brick laying, decorating and gardening - run with further education colleges and adult learning organisations

Personalised skills training - through the intensive tailored support of the Pathways to Employment programme, and linking in with schemes such as Personal Best

Apprenticeships - St Mungo's has its own apprenticeship scheme, which successfully recruited 16 clients last year and is about to recruit a further cohort to start in September 2010.

Social enterprise and employment support - St Mungo's employment team provides CV and job coaching help, helps entrepreneurs set up their own social enterprises and supports people into work and volunteer placements.

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