[Withdrawn] LR65 provider memo: update to section 4
Updated 17 January 2019
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-choice-provider-memos-2017/lr65-provider-memo-update-to-section-4
This memo is for Work Choice providers.
This memo was issues on 10 May 2018.
1. Information
The Work Choice programme has now closed for new referrals and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is turning its attention to the quality of the customer journey for Work Choice’s final participants.
Work Choice programme design-expectation is that, normally, up to 6 months in Module One, Work Choice’s pre-employment support module, should be adequate for most participants. However, should you believe that an individual participant would benefit from extra time in Module One, a further 6 months can be allowed, by exception, up to a maximum of 12 months in total.
The aim of this flexibility is to avoid disadvantaging participants with fluctuating health conditions or other extenuating circumstances, for example where a job start date has been secured but is delayed in order for reasonable adjustments to be put in place.
When the current contract extensions in England and Wales commenced in April 2017 providers were notified that this module extension was no longer at your discretion and you were required to consult your DWP performance manager in all cases.
However, DWP wishes to ensure the optimum customer journey for all remaining Work Choice participants, with minimal constraints. Accordingly, now that no new customers can be admitted to Module One, we will return to pre-April 2017 guidance in this matter.
Providers may now offer their remaining Module One participants extended support at your discretion, without consulting DWP performance managers.
Action
Consider offering extended Module One support to your Module One participants.
You are reminded that you must record your decision to allow an extension in your participant’s Development Plan (which must be available for inspection by DWP) and, if appropriate, in their Leaver Report.
You should indicate what additional support you intend to give to the participant and the reason why this would enhance their prospects of obtaining employment.
You are reminded that all Work Choice participants must receive a Leaver Report, not excluding those participants who leave the programme upon termination of your service.
2. Further information contact details
If you have any queries about this memo please consult your performance manager in the first instance.