The Work Programme: providers and contracting arrangements
The Work and Pensions Committee has decided to hold an inquiry into the contracting arrangements for the Work Programme and related provider issues. Written evidence is invited from interested organisations.
The areas on which the inquiry will focus include:
- The steps the Department for Work and Pensions needs to take to ensure that a procurement programme of this size and complexity is managed effectively and delivers high quality outcomes
- The extent to which the Work Programme will differ from existing contracted employment programmes
- The relationship between prime contractors and sub-contractors and DWP’s role in overseeing this relationship
- The role of Jobcentre Plus in delivering the Work Programme, including the lessons learned from the Delegated Flexibility Pilots
- The implications for providers of the increase in volume and the change in profile of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants arising from the migration from Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance
- The implications for providers of “payments by results” arrangements, with particular reference to the voluntary and social enterprise sector
- The likely effectiveness of a differential payment scheme in encouraging providers to support harder to help groups
- The implications of regional variations in the labour market, and whether these will be reflected in the differential payment arrangements
- How providers will be encouraged to work effectively with local authorities and other local agencies
The deadline for written evidence is 25 November 2010.
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