Chapter 1: Introduction and overview
Updated 1 April 2020
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-and-health-programme-provider-guidance/chapter-1-introduction-and-overview
Contracting body note
1. The Authority has issued this Work and Health Programme specific provider guidance and generic provider guidance to help provide Contractors (and sub-contractors) with operational clarity and guidance and forms part of the Work and Health Programme Contract. In the event of, and only to the extent of, any conflict or inconsistency between the clauses of these documents, the Work and Health Programme Terms and Conditions, any document referred to in those clauses and the Schedules, the conflict or inconsistency shall be resolved in accordance with the following order of precedence:
- (a) the clauses of the Work and Health Programme Terms and Conditions including all Schedules and any Appendices or Annexes to the Work Health Programme Terms and Conditions
- (b) the Work and Health Programme Specification
- (c) the Q&A
- (d) the Tender
- (e) the Tender Clarification
- (f) the Provider Guidance
- (g) the Umbrella Agreement
- (h) any other document referred to in the Work and Health Programme Contract
2. The provisions contained in this PG relating to Universal Credit claimants have been developed on the basis of current practice for such claimants. As we continue to develop Universal Credit, the Department will introduce changes to our interaction processes with providers and claimants. We will keep you advised of these as they develop.
An introduction to the Work and Health Programme Provider Guidance
3. This Work and Health Programme guidance supports you, the provider, by setting out the important things you need to know and do in order to provide the Work and Health Programme Services, in conjunction with other requirements set out in the Contract between the Contracting Body and the Contractor. This Work and Health Programme Guidance is a contractual document and should be read in conjunction with other contractual documents which form the Work and Health Programme Contract between the Contracting Body and the Contractor.
4. In addition to this Work Health Programme Provider Guidance you must also comply with the Generic DWP Provider Guidance which applies to all of our provision and that you ensure that European Social Fund (ESF) requirements are adhered to. Further information regarding ESF requirements can be found in Generic Provider Guidance Chapter 11b – ESF requirements 2014 – 2020 (England Only).
Overview of the Work and Health Programme
5. Launched in November 2017 the Work and Health Programme is DWP’s new contracted employment provision that will help persons who have a disability, the long term unemployed (LTU) and specified disadvantaged groups to find sustained work. The Work and Health Programme will target those who are most likely to benefit from the additional support of the programme.
6. The Work and Health Programme will:
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provide additional support that is distinct and additional to that available through Jobcentre Plus
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support current and future local plans for service integration for individuals who have multiple barriers to work and/or have a disability. DWP agreed, through the Government’s Devolution Deal and City Deal process, to work with a number of combined authorities/city regions to ensure local priorities influence the design and delivery of Work and Health Programme by co-designing the programme with those areas
7. The Contracting Body will predominantly remunerate Work and Health Programme Contractors on a Payment by Results (PbR) basis in order to drive sustained employment outcomes.
8. Providers must as part of achieving sustained employment outcomes:
- provide Participants with more tailored support than is available in their locality
- have strong links to national and local employers
- link up with health and social care services and other local services
- take a holistic approach to tackling the barriers to employment faced by Participants
9. All new Participants will be referred to you by Jobcentre Plus. Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches will use their expertise and skills to perform the key role of identifying eligible Participants from the target groups to participate in the Work and Health Programme and then engaging them to access the provision. Jobcentre Plus are the final decision maker for determining if an individual is eligible and should be referred to the Work and Health Programme.
Public Sector Comparator (PSC)
10. DWP wants to compare and contrast different delivery models and reserves the right to operate a PSC alongside the Work and Health Programme contracts and control group. This will enable DWP to quantify and isolate the impact of different delivery approaches and techniques and will support future policy design. DWP will use reasonable endeavors to ensure the PSC is managed so that it does not have a negative impact on the delivery models of suppliers in live running.
Key responsibilities
11. Whilst Participants are on the Work and Health Programme some of your key responsibilities are:
- to conduct an initial conversation with the Participant to make arrangements for the face to face start meeting. This meeting must take place within 15 working days of the referral from DWP
- helping Participants to find and stay in sustainable work by engaging with Participants in accordance with the Customer Service Standards (CSS)
- producing an exit report, which meets DWP’s requirements regarding Participants who have completed the Work and Health Programme
- ensuring that ESF requirements are adhered to
12. You must meet ESF specific requirements set by the European Union (EU) and failure to comply is a financial risk for both DWP and you, as funds used inappropriately or for ineligible purposes and/or where the ESF requirements have not been met may be recoverable from you. The ESF requirements include but are not limited to the following:
- adequate evidence must be kept at all stages for Participants who have started on provision
- a complete audit trail of key documents and electronic information must be captured, maintained and retained at all stages throughout the process
- the EU regulations in connection with marketing and publicising ESF must be met
- EU requirements relating to sustainable development, equality, diversity and equal opportunities must be met
- all required documentation for each Participant must be made available to DWP and EU auditors/investigators/officers/agents if required
13. The requirements above apply to all Participants and services supplied under the Contract. If sub-contractors are used to deliver any part of the services under the contract it is your responsibility to ensure ESF requirements are met in respect of all services delivered through such sub-contractors. You therefore are ultimately accountable for the compliance of the contract with ESF requirements. Failure to comply with any of the ESF requirements may result in the reclaim of funding and claims against you for recovery of any payments received under the Contract and losses arising from the failure to comply with ESF requirements.
14. Further information regarding ESF requirements can be found in Generic Provider Guidance Chapter 11b – ESF requirements 2014 to 2020 (England Only) and throughout this guidance at the relevant points.
15. While Participants are on the Work and Health Programme, Jobcentre Plus will continue to see them to check that they are meeting their conditions for claiming benefits (if applicable). For example Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants will continue to be required to attend Work Search Reviews and demonstrate that they are actively seeking and available for work. Jobcentre Plus will be mindful that you may have discussed and agreed appropriate activities to help secure employment and these activities may be used by Participants to demonstrate that they are actively seeking work.
Please note
Not all Participants referred to Work Health Programme will be in receipt of a Working Age benefit.
16. Jobcentre Plus will collect any informal feedback that Participants volunteer about the services they receive from you. This will be passed to your performance managers on a regular basis.
17. You are expected to ensure Participants are fully informed about your complaints process. Further information can be found in Work and Health Programme Provider Guidance Chapter 12: Participant Complaints.
Travel costs and additional costs
18. You must ensure Participants are not worse off by virtue of attending the Work and Health Programme.
19. You must at your expense pay each Participants costs for travel, childcare, replacement care and additional support costs whilst they are on the Work and Health Programme.
Key interactions with Jobcentre Plus
20. While the Participant is on the Work and Health Programme, you will need to work together with Jobcentre Plus in the following ways:
- DWP will notify you if we become aware that a Participant has a change in their circumstances. It is essential that you are in regular contact with the Participant to ensure you have the latest personal information
- you are expected to facilitate the non-compliance process for LTU Participants by engaging promptly with Labour Market Decision Makers/Universal Credit Decision Makers when Participants have not complied with a mandatory activity. Further information can be found in Work and Health Programme Chapter 8: Raising a Compliance Doubt for LTU participants
- in respect of LTU Participants some Participants may be required to attend mandatory interventions with Jobcentre Plus. For example, JSA Participants will be required to attend their Work Search Reviews and other mandatory interventions at Jobcentre Plus. You must ensure that nothing you require of Participants prevents them from attending these appointments
Integration with Local Authorities (LAs)
21. You must avoid duplication of existing services in your provision of the Work and Health Programme Services, whilst still ensuring that the needs of the Participants are suitably addressed.
Duration on the Work and Health Programme and in work support
22. Once a Participant starts on Work and Health Programme, you have 456 calendar days to work with that Participant, to help them into sustained employment.
23. Unless a Participant completes early, you will be expected to deliver 456 calendar days of continuous support, plus any in work support.
24. Therefore you remain responsible for ensuring Participants get the right support for this full period. It is for you to determine the appropriate course of action in accordance with the Contract, for providing support to Participants.
25. In work support whilst on the programme can be for any period of time, but once a Participant reaches the 456 day end point on programme, In Work Support can only be extended for a further 182 days. This may extend the period for which you support a Participant up to a maximum of 639 calendar days.
Should you require a copy of any of the forms mentioned in this chapter, please email: WHP.ENQUIRIES@DWP.GOV.UK