Provider memo 18: incorrect referrals
Updated 4 April 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-and-health-programme-provider-memos-2018/provider-memo-18-incorrect-referrals
This memo is for Work and Health Programme (WHP) providers.
Issued by: Work and Health Programme Operational Policy Team.
This memo was issued to providers on 12 September 2019.
Background
All participants who are referred to the WHP must be submitted to the Random Allocation Tool (RAT) and are allocated to either the:
- WHP
- Public Sector Comparator (PSC)
- Random Control Group (RCG)
It has been identified that on a small number of occasions some participants have been:
- incorrectly referred to the WHP when the allocation from the RAT was either the PSC or the RCG
- referred to the WHP without submission to the RAT
- referred under the incorrect opportunity type, such as Devolution Deal Areas (DDA) instead of non DDA (and vice versa)
WHP memo WHP01 outlined the process to use in situations when a Participant is referred to the WHP when they were allocated a place in the RCG. This memo is to confirm and expand this process to those who have been incorrectly referred under the above scenarios.
The following information has been updated in the provider guidance chapter 3.
With immediate effect, you should follow the process below.
Summary and action
After consideration of the impacts of the above scenarios, a decision has been made that the participant will remain on the programme on the initial referral. This will ensure that we protect the Real Time Earnings feed and will reduce the impact on the participant and the provider.
A decision has also been made to extend the existing policy around erroneous RCG referrals (outlined in memo WHP01) to include those made to the WHP following allocation to the PSC, or without going through the RAT.
Participants who are erroneously referred in these scenarios are eligible for the programme and should continue to be supported by their provider on the initial referral.
The above approach will minimise the impact on both the participant and the provider and ensure consistency across the programme.
For all scenarios you should take the appropriate action to start the participant on the programme following the process outlined in provider guidance chapter 3.
You must not refer the participant back to Jobcentre Plus or take any remedial action.
Further information contact details
If you have any queries about this memo, please contact whp.enquiries@dwp.gov.uk.