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CEDEFOP Info 3/97 reported the Labour government's proposals on Welfare to Work strategy. In October 1997, the government published its first initiative under the strategy. Entitled New Deal for 18-24 years olds* it marks a sea change in the way in which the government will deliver employment-focused services to unemployed young people.
Gateway
An important part of the support measures to be given to young unemployed is the 'Gateway' process. Gateway is the stage at which plans tailored to each young person's needs and circumstances will be developed.
Gateway will aim
- to help those who are already well equipped to find jobs to do so
- to provide appropriate help for those who, with the necessary support could quickly improve their immediate job prospects, and then help them to find jobs
- for those who take up the New Deal options - to provide the support and help required to enable them to make appropriate choices and to prepare them to gain the maximum benefit from the option chosen in terms of developing skills, employability and job prospects.
Gateway begins once a young person is identified as eligible for the New Deal and attends an interview with a personal adviser nominated by the Employment Service or, in Northern Ireland, the Training and Employment Agency.
Role of personal advisers
An important part of Gateway is early and intensive assistance by the personal advisers to get people into non-subsidised jobs, particularly for those who are 'job ready' - that is able to take up work without special help under the rest of the New Deal. The government expects some 40% of eligible young people to find unsubsidised work during Gateway.
The remainder will need more help to improve their employability. This will include:
- access to independent careers advice and guidance (mentors);
- access to measures to increase confidence, sharpen basic skills;
- help to prepare for New Deal options including short basic skill courses, 'tasters' of options via the Employment Service or one of its partner organisations;
- help from specialist agencies for people with exceptional problems;
- help in developing and updating action plans and advice packs which participants retain during the New Deal
Gateway can last for up to four months. However continued support will be provided by the Employment Service personal advisers throughout people's time on the New Deal so that they obtain the most from their chosen option and, as they come to the end of the six month option period, keep or obtain jobs.
Mentors
Ongoing career guidance and advice to people on the New Deal will also be provided by a national network of 'mentors' appointed by the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) following a tendering process. These mentors will be independent, voluntary and unpaid and are expected to come from employees in industry, trade unions, people already working with young people in the voluntary/community sectors and retired teachers/trainers. Monitoring co-ordinators will be appointed in each New Deal region. They will recruit, train and assign mentors to participants.
Options
The four New Deal options (see CEDEFOP Info 3/97) are work or education related:
- Employment option
- Environmental task force option
- Voluntary sector option.
Participants in the employment, environmental task force and voluntary sector options are entitled to at least one day a week (or block of time equivalent) off the job training towards an approved qualification.
- The education related option lasts for up to fifty-two weeks and is designed to provide help for those young people without National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 2 or equivalent qualification, especially people who lack the qualities, basic skills and attitude for employment. All participants in this option are guaranteed access to an approved training organisation and work experience. Participants will receive an allowance and course fees will be funded by the government.
There is no fifth option of not taking up any of these options and remaining on government benefit.
Public sector
When first proposed the New Deal did not include the public sector in the employment option. However, following broad consultation with the social partners, it was decided that the scheme should mirror the national labour market as closely as possible.
The government expects over 100,000 work placements in the private sector for young people under the New Deal.
* Design of a New Deal for 18-24 years old, available free of charge from Barry Symonds, Employment Service, New Deal Co-ordinator, London and South East Region, 212-236 Grays Inn Road, London WC1 X8L, tel.: +44 171 211 4312, fax: +44 171 211 4183.
Further information: Department for Education and Employment, Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA, tel.: 44 171 273 3000, fax: 44 171 273 5024.
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Source: IPD
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