Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on (a) quality of service for Work Coach clients, (b) equalities, (c) training costs, and (d) future quality of service for Work Coach clients of (ii) rising unemployment and (b) staff in her Department who were hired on fixed term contracts as a result of covid-19 pandemic-related increases in social security claim rates are not transferred onto permanent contracts.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
The department monitors and manages its workforce planning by regularly reviewing and monitoring the supply of resources against demand for all portfolios of service delivery and the service provided by Work Coaches is measured by understanding caseloads and claimants within the intensive work search group that our Work Coaches work with to support movement into work.
Our Jobcentre teams are committed to delivering a quality service to ensure all claimants receive the best possible support to meet their individual circumstances. We operate a service delivery framework which sets out the service expectations for our Jobcentre network and the requirements for how they deliver their services. It provides information on why these expectations are set, and ways that Jobcentre leaders and Work Coaches should implement the expectations.
Work Coaches undergo a comprehensive learning journey designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality, efficient service to all claimants. They receive on-going learning in their roles and have access to guidance which is refreshed at regular intervals. Jobcentre Team Leaders are responsible for monitoring and assuring the quality of services provided to individual claimants through a combination of observation of interviews, feedback, coaching and appraisal.
Where we have made offers of permanence to our fixed term colleagues, this has reflected merit, location and taking into account demand for future services across the Department in relation to the number of roles available.
Where we were unable to make an offer at this time, colleagues have been placed on a reserve list and we will continue to consider where we may be able to make any further permanence offers, where further opportunities become available. We are also continuing to provide colleagues with a comprehensive career planning offer and ongoing support.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the closure of the Department of Work and Pensions’ London Stratford Jubilee House office, when she expects one on one conversations about the impact of the move on staff with protected characteristics to take place between staff and managers at Stratford Jubilee House; and whether any concerns about the impact on staff with protected characteristics raised during one on one conversations with managers will be addressed early enough to mitigate any disproportionate impacts.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
As part of the Department’s plans to reshape how, when and where the Department works, which will result in a smaller, greener and better estate, we plan to move colleagues and services from London Stratford, Jubilee House to Ilford, Wentworth House which is approximately 7.6 miles away. Impacted colleagues are currently having one-to-one discussions with local leaders where their individual circumstances, including any potential impact for those with protected characteristics are discussed and potential options considered. For those colleagues who are unable to move to Ilford, Wentworth House, redeployment within DWP or other Government Departments will be the priority.
The Department is making every effort to fully support staff through this process. As a responsible employer, the Department will make provision for redundancies as necessary. However, this will be a last resort after all efforts to retain, retrain and redeploy colleagues, either within DWP or other Government Departments in the area, have been exhausted.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the closure of the Department of Work and Pensions’ London Stratford Jubilee House office, how many (a) job losses and (b) compulsory redundancies are expected as a result of that closure.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
As part of the Department’s plans to reshape how, when and where the Department works, which will result in a smaller, greener and better estate, we plan to move colleagues and services from London Stratford, Jubilee House to Ilford, Wentworth House which is approximately 7.6 miles away. Impacted colleagues are currently having one-to-one discussions with local leaders where their individual circumstances, including any potential impact for those with protected characteristics are discussed and potential options considered. For those colleagues who are unable to move to Ilford, Wentworth House, redeployment within DWP or other Government Departments will be the priority.
The Department is making every effort to fully support staff through this process. As a responsible employer, the Department will make provision for redundancies as necessary. However, this will be a last resort after all efforts to retain, retrain and redeploy colleagues, either within DWP or other Government Departments in the area, have been exhausted.