Purpose

Announced by the Department for Work and
Pensions (DWP), the Get Britain Working White Paper introduced two
new national initiatives; developing local Get Britain Working
plans and a new, grant funded workforce and employability programme
called Connect to Work. The geography for both the development of
the plans and Connect to Work is identical. Plymouth is part of the
Delivery Area which consists of Torbay Council and Plymouth City
Council, with Devon County Council as the Lead Accountable Body.
Devon County Council have therefore been given responsibility for
these items, working in partnership with both Plymouth City Council
and Torbay Council, and engaging relevant partner organisations in
the process. Get Devon Plymouth Torbay Working plan: Our Delivery
Area’s plan will be known as the ‘Get Devon Plymouth
Torbay Working plan’, DWP have specified this covers a range
of information including labour market issues related to
participation, progression, earnings and job quality in the labour
market. These plans are strategic and should set out ambitions for
the next 10 years alongside more immediate goals and actions. These
plans are closely related to the delivery of Connect to Work, which
is detailed further below, but may also incorporate future DWP
funding and programmes including the Youth Guarantee. Connect to
Work: Plymouth City Council have worked closely with both Devon
County Council and Torbay Council in designing delivery of the new
Connect to Work programme across the Delivery Area. This is a new,
national workforce support service aimed at helping those with
disabilities and long-term health conditions into sustainable work.
Grant funding has been allocated to each Delivery Area for this.
Plymouth City Council have developed a place-based approach,
pursuing in-house delivery, creating a

new team to deliver this support to local communities and working
closely with existing provision and teams. The Connect to Work
programme will be available to all eligible and suitable
individuals within Plymouth, supporting them into sustainable
work.

Decision

Purpose of
Report
 
Announced by the Department for Work and
Pensions (DWP), the Get Britain Working White Paper introduced two
new national initiatives; developing local Get Britain Working
plans and a new, grant funded workforce and employability programme
called Connect to Work. The Get Devon Plymouth and Torbay Working
(GDPTW) plan will, cover labour market issues related to
participation, progression, earnings and job quality in the labour
market.
 
This strategic plan will provide strategic
direction for Connect to Work, as well as future DWP initiatives
such as the Youth Offer. Connect to Work, is a new programme which
will specifically support disabled people, those with health
conditions and people with multiple and systemic barriers to
employment, to access and experience meaningful and sustainable
work.
 
Decision
 
Cabinet agreed to –
 
1. Approve and accept the Get Devon Plymouth
and Torbay Working plan: 2025 - 2027
 
Reason:
 
Accepting the Get Devon Plymouth and Torbay
Working plan provides the overarching plan for delivering Connect
to Work and other, new pilots and funding across this
geography.
 
2. delegate the
authority to sign future pilot contracts and agreements associated
with the Get Devon Plymouth and Torbay Working plan, such as the
Youth Guarantee, to the Director for Children’s Services,
where they do not already have the authority to do so
 
Reason:
 
To enable the Director of Children’s
Services to sign any contracts or agreement from Devon County
Council or Department for Work and Pensions, on behalf of Plymouth
City Council for future pilots or funds associated with the Get
Devon Plymouth and Torbay Working plan, such as Youth
Guarantee.
 
3. Approve the proposal for the Council to
deliver the new DWP Connect to Work programme to support
approximately 2,100 Plymouth residents (total value of
approximately £6.8m over 5 years).??
 
Reason:
 
To enable the delivery of the Connect to Work
programme to begin in Plymouth, which will support 2,100 residents
into employment including those with disabilities, long-term health
conditions and specified disadvantaged groups. Our proposed
delivery will create 33 roles at peak, all fully funded through the
grant allocation by the DWP.
 
4. delegate the
authority to sign Connect to Work contracts and agreements to the
Director for Children’s Services, where they do not already
have the authority to do so
 
Reason:
 
To enable the Director of Children’s
Services to sign any contracts or agreement from Devon County
Council or Department for Work and Pensions, on behalf of Plymouth
City Council.
 

Alternative options considered and
rejected

 

Cabinet considered the alternative
options as set out in the report