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| Helping the disadvantaged into work: 'I would never have got a job with the Work Programme' | Helping the disadvantaged into work: 'I would never have got a job with the Work Programme' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Peter Watson has spent a life getting high on the taxpayer. "Smack, crack, coke, anything really," says Watson. For the last 20 years when not spaced out of his mind, he would be drinking or stealing or fighting. Or sometimes all three. He's never been in paid employment. | Peter Watson has spent a life getting high on the taxpayer. "Smack, crack, coke, anything really," says Watson. For the last 20 years when not spaced out of his mind, he would be drinking or stealing or fighting. Or sometimes all three. He's never been in paid employment. |
| "You get £140 a fortnight and when you are an addict you think it's your right. You think you deserve it. But you don't," says the 34-year-old who in the last few months has turned his back on a lifetime of addiction. | "You get £140 a fortnight and when you are an addict you think it's your right. You think you deserve it. But you don't," says the 34-year-old who in the last few months has turned his back on a lifetime of addiction. |
| Homeless since he was a teenager, Watson admits to frittering away 10 years behind bars. His last 16-month prison stretch was for being involved in a violent street robbery. | Homeless since he was a teenager, Watson admits to frittering away 10 years behind bars. His last 16-month prison stretch was for being involved in a violent street robbery. |
| "Being on crack and heroin all day every day doesn't help with your behaviour. It takes away all your morals. Your hygiene, cleanliness, you have no respect for anything. I slept rough. I didn't wash. I only wanted money for my next fix." | "Being on crack and heroin all day every day doesn't help with your behaviour. It takes away all your morals. Your hygiene, cleanliness, you have no respect for anything. I slept rough. I didn't wash. I only wanted money for my next fix." |
| Under the new tougher government regime, there is a push to crack down on the idea that benefits can sponsor ruinous lifestyles. The result for Watson was that when he was released in November he spent months getting clean in a rehabilitation programme that sought to purge him of his destructive addiction. | Under the new tougher government regime, there is a push to crack down on the idea that benefits can sponsor ruinous lifestyles. The result for Watson was that when he was released in November he spent months getting clean in a rehabilitation programme that sought to purge him of his destructive addiction. |
| Earlier this year when Watson went to sign on in Stockport he was put on Employment and Support Allowance, a benefit that recognised his long-term health issues but also meant he had to look for work. Entering the labour market in a period of stagnant economic growth after two decades in and out of prisons is not easy for anyone. But Watson's case illustrates just how complex and tricky the task of getting a job can be – especially for those pulled into the government's flagship welfare to work scheme, the Work Programme. Ravaged by addiction, Watson finds it difficult holding people's gaze in conversation. He admits he lacks confidence in group settings. He's also clueless about the world of work. "In my last Work Programme interview yesterday they got out a form which is supposed to help you fill out a CV. I said 'what's a CV?' I honestly never heard of it." | Earlier this year when Watson went to sign on in Stockport he was put on Employment and Support Allowance, a benefit that recognised his long-term health issues but also meant he had to look for work. Entering the labour market in a period of stagnant economic growth after two decades in and out of prisons is not easy for anyone. But Watson's case illustrates just how complex and tricky the task of getting a job can be – especially for those pulled into the government's flagship welfare to work scheme, the Work Programme. Ravaged by addiction, Watson finds it difficult holding people's gaze in conversation. He admits he lacks confidence in group settings. He's also clueless about the world of work. "In my last Work Programme interview yesterday they got out a form which is supposed to help you fill out a CV. I said 'what's a CV?' I honestly never heard of it." |
| On Thursday the government released its latest report assessing how well the £3bn Work Programme is performing. The target set by government for the private companies delivering the scheme for ESA claimants, like Watson, is that one in six should be in a job for a least three months. In fact the actual performance, two years since the start of the scheme, is more like one in 20. | |
| The trade body representing private firms delivering the work programme warns that the financial model is too rigid, doesn't reflect regional variation and needs overhauling. They point out there has been a marked increase in the number of the unemployed on ESA referred to the scheme in recent months – stretching the thin resources available. | The trade body representing private firms delivering the work programme warns that the financial model is too rigid, doesn't reflect regional variation and needs overhauling. They point out there has been a marked increase in the number of the unemployed on ESA referred to the scheme in recent months – stretching the thin resources available. |
| Many have significant needs – over a quarter have been out of work for at least 11 years. The government also pays companies less every year for dealing with ESA claimants. Twelve months ago they picked up £600 for every sick, disadvantaged and sometimes disabled jobseeker on the programme. This year it's £300. Next year this subsidy will dwindle to zero. | Many have significant needs – over a quarter have been out of work for at least 11 years. The government also pays companies less every year for dealing with ESA claimants. Twelve months ago they picked up £600 for every sick, disadvantaged and sometimes disabled jobseeker on the programme. This year it's £300. Next year this subsidy will dwindle to zero. |
| Kirsty McHugh, chief executive of Employment Related Services Association called on ministers for the work progamme to be able to access the £234m spent on skills initiatives to support unemployed people. On Wednesday the Treasury announced that it would look at ways at getting "healthcare professionals" to help the unemployed. | Kirsty McHugh, chief executive of Employment Related Services Association called on ministers for the work progamme to be able to access the £234m spent on skills initiatives to support unemployed people. On Wednesday the Treasury announced that it would look at ways at getting "healthcare professionals" to help the unemployed. |
| McHugh says it's a welcome first step but "the Work Programme finances cannot fix all these problems alone and we therefore need to revisit the resources available to support these jobseekers, including through the greater use of skills and health budgets". | McHugh says it's a welcome first step but "the Work Programme finances cannot fix all these problems alone and we therefore need to revisit the resources available to support these jobseekers, including through the greater use of skills and health budgets". |
| Earlier this year MPs on the work and pensions select committee warned that although the Work Programme was undeniably helping those close to the job market those with the greatest need were being left behind. Thursday's figures show that providers just missed their targets: a third of those on jobseeker's allowance were supposed to get jobs – just above the 31.9% figure posted by the programme. The committee said that "(the government) must improve its processes for identifying jobseekers' barriers to work, including disability, homelessness and serious drug and alcohol issues". | Earlier this year MPs on the work and pensions select committee warned that although the Work Programme was undeniably helping those close to the job market those with the greatest need were being left behind. Thursday's figures show that providers just missed their targets: a third of those on jobseeker's allowance were supposed to get jobs – just above the 31.9% figure posted by the programme. The committee said that "(the government) must improve its processes for identifying jobseekers' barriers to work, including disability, homelessness and serious drug and alcohol issues". |
| A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions admits that some "may be able to work in the future but are not yet ready". However the department says "the Work Programme is offering (the unemployed) more support than previous employment schemes, and 6,000 of the hardest to help have now found lasting work". | A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions admits that some "may be able to work in the future but are not yet ready". However the department says "the Work Programme is offering (the unemployed) more support than previous employment schemes, and 6,000 of the hardest to help have now found lasting work". |
| There is undeniable concern that the system is not helping rough sleepers, whose numbers have increased nationally by 31% over the last two years. Crisis, the homeless charity, said that research it had commissioned found one in 27 homeless people had secured employment and even then this was due to help from the charity. They say that instead of helping the homeless, the programme hinders them, enforcing sanctions that leave people penniless and on the streets or being delivered by overworked teams who often cut short appointments and take extended leave. | There is undeniable concern that the system is not helping rough sleepers, whose numbers have increased nationally by 31% over the last two years. Crisis, the homeless charity, said that research it had commissioned found one in 27 homeless people had secured employment and even then this was due to help from the charity. They say that instead of helping the homeless, the programme hinders them, enforcing sanctions that leave people penniless and on the streets or being delivered by overworked teams who often cut short appointments and take extended leave. |
| Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, said: "The Work Programme has been a massive disappointment for homeless people and others who need greater support to return to work. It has failed to help far too many, leaving them parked without meaningful help, lives on hold. The Work Programme is just not working for those it was set up to serve – the most disadvantaged. The government must listen and reform the Work Programme without delay." | Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, said: "The Work Programme has been a massive disappointment for homeless people and others who need greater support to return to work. It has failed to help far too many, leaving them parked without meaningful help, lives on hold. The Work Programme is just not working for those it was set up to serve – the most disadvantaged. The government must listen and reform the Work Programme without delay." |
| One of those who has experienced the enervating round of reviews, meetings and penalties is Kyle Kitchen, 26, who found himself homeless after losing his job with London Transport. He suffered from anxiety and had a "mini breakdown", losing his flat. Unable to keep up with the rent and with nowhere else to go, he ended up rough sleeping for a month and a half. | One of those who has experienced the enervating round of reviews, meetings and penalties is Kyle Kitchen, 26, who found himself homeless after losing his job with London Transport. He suffered from anxiety and had a "mini breakdown", losing his flat. Unable to keep up with the rent and with nowhere else to go, he ended up rough sleeping for a month and a half. |
| When he began on the work programme Kitchen says he was positive, having worked in recruitment himself. However, his experience over the last few months, he says, has been negative. Appointments have been largely unproductive, there's little facetime with advisers and even worse on occasion he's been shouted at and singled out for abuse. | When he began on the work programme Kitchen says he was positive, having worked in recruitment himself. However, his experience over the last few months, he says, has been negative. Appointments have been largely unproductive, there's little facetime with advisers and even worse on occasion he's been shouted at and singled out for abuse. |
| "They can be really abrupt and rude dealing with me. I thought about complaining about their attitude towards me, but I was scared I would have my benefits sanctioned. Once I phoned to say I would be late for an appointment but my advisor was talking quite loudly in front of other people, like she was trying to show me up," said Kitchen, who thanks to his volunteering has got a job with St Mungo's, a homeless charity. | "They can be really abrupt and rude dealing with me. I thought about complaining about their attitude towards me, but I was scared I would have my benefits sanctioned. Once I phoned to say I would be late for an appointment but my advisor was talking quite loudly in front of other people, like she was trying to show me up," said Kitchen, who thanks to his volunteering has got a job with St Mungo's, a homeless charity. |
| "I would never have got a job with the Work Programme. It was like they did not want to succeed." | "I would never have got a job with the Work Programme. It was like they did not want to succeed." |