Background
The aim of this project is to ensure that capacity is in place to enable providers to respond to redundancies and the employment implications of the present economic climate, and to fill gaps in mainstream LSC funding for individuals under notice of redundancy or who have been made redundant.  The approach will ensure adults (aged 18 and over) under notice of redundancy, those made recently redundant or those that are unemployed who with high quality education and training support would be ready to continue in, enter or re-enter sustainable employment and contribute positively to the local labour market.

It is clear that no single agency will be able to provide all the support and guidance and training required by the increasing numbers of people either unemployed before, or as a result of, the current economic downturn. Nor will any one agency be able to provide similar levels of support to all those employers affected by the same downturn, assisting them with training and access to support. The multi-partner service coordinated by this steering group will meet these needs by enabling multiple agencies to cooperate more effectively and meet the needs of their clients while reducing the frustration that the clients may feel if dealing with agencies based in different locations. The aim is to make it easy for individuals and employers to access the wide ranging support available.

Eligibility
The key target groups are:

• Individuals who are under notice or redundancy and their employer organisations – an individual who is aged 18 or over and is in possession of a personal redundancy notice letter, or covered by an overall letter on headed paper from the employer in which the individual is listed as one those ‘under notice’ or redundancy from a specific date.

 

• Individuals who are newly redundant – individual who is aged 18 or over and is in possession of a redundancy notice letter from their ex-employer confirming their last day or employment was in the last 3 months, or the first date of unemployment is either current or in the last 3 months.

• Individuals who are unemployed but would be ready for employment after receiving this package of skills development support – an individual who is aged 18 or over and not in paid employment but available and actively seeking work (0-6months)

 

Provision
Provision must be tailored to the needs of the individual and include some if not all, depending on need, of the following range of skills interventions:

• Training Needs Analysis and Individual Learning Plan
• Skills for Life diagnostic (including ICT) and delivery of training to improve job search, job allocation and in-work skills
• IAG and learner support
• Training to update skills needed for a specific employment sector
• Pre-employment training to provide skills to enter a different occupation or sector
• Regular progress reviews
• Exit interviews and customer tracking

There is no restriction on the type of provision – as long as it is organised and delivered according to the individuals existing skill levels, local market intelligence on opportunities and the individuals own career aspirations, however, activity must be focused on skills development.

For more details on Response to Redundancy please contact Valerie Mckay, Toni Langridge, Keith Norton or Samantha Bingley on 01623 404538.