DWP Local Supported Employment Proof of Concept. Q&A Briefing. Contents Issue Issue Issue

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1 DWP Local Supported Employment Proof of Concept Q&A Briefing Contents Issue Issue Issue Issue 1 Dates covered - 14 Feb to 13 March 2017 Q1 Who is eligible to submit an Expression of Interest for this Proof of Concept? A We are seeking interest from and will work with local authorities on the delivery of this Local Supported Employment proof of concept. As such only expressions of interest submitted by local authorities will be considered and should an organisation be interested in supporting delivery, they should liaise with their local authority. As stated in the specification, Tier 2 local authorities are not in scope for this proof of concept. DWP suggests that liaise with your Tier 1 authority to see if they are planning to submit a bid and how you may be involved. Q2 What are the details of the funding? A - We haven t released details of the overall budget but we have secured funding to support eight local authorities for around 94 participants per year. We expect local authorities to at least match the level of investment by DWP. Q3 What part of the investment is expected to be match funded and what can be included? A The outcome payments are expected to be match funded and where applicable DWP has a small budget allocated for start up costs which is expected to be matched for those local authorities who do not currently provide a service. For example this might be used for staff related training or upskilling. Q4 - Are there minimum or maximum amounts we can bid for/include in our proposal? A - There is a limit to the overall funding DWP will commit to the Local Supported Employment proof of concept. This funding will be split between the 8 selected expressions of interest and the exact split of funding will be agreed at the next stage.

2 The funding will operate on the principle that a level will be agreed (linked to a number of factors including the number of customers to be supported) from DWP with the expectation that the local authorities will match that funding investment. Q5 We already provide a service, how can we get involved with this initiative? A - DWP would like to work with a broad range of local authorities, including those who currently offer a service, as part of your expression of interest this has been requested in the questionnaire. So funding or resources could be included in your expression of interest. DWP expects local authorities to maintain their existing levels of investment so if a service is already in place we would be looking at how DWP investment can grow the service. Isn t this final sentence all that is needed in response to this question? Q6 - How many participants do you envisage taking part in this project? A - We expect an average of 94 participants per local authorities this will of course vary but for costing purposes we have assumed an average of 94. Q7 - What are the timescales for the proof of concept? A - The proof of concept will run for 18 months initially from April 2017 to October Q8 What are the occupational standards that the expression of interest is referring to in Q1.1? A - BASE National Occupational Standards for Supported Employment are the standards that DWP will refer to, to deliver this initiative. UPDATED - The National Occupational Standards for Supported Employment are not owned by BASE. They were adopted by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) following approval from each of the 4 home countries. Since UKCES no longer carry out this role they are now managed on behalf of UK countries by Skills Development Scotland. BASE has the contract to review the standards as part of the normal review cycle and they will be doing this over the coming few months. The Individual Placement Support model will be used to support clients with secondary mental health conditions, both aspects form part of this concept. Q9 Does any of the funding have an element of European funding? A - The funding is from DWP Personal Support Package budget and is not from any European funding streams.

3 Q10 - You are expecting an average of 94 participants per local authority. Is this referrals or starts? A - The indicative volumes are for starts which result in an outcome payment, DWP has estimated that this will be an average of 94 starts for each local authority per year. Q11 - We currently deliver Supported Employment programme, will we have to alter the delivery model in order to be part of this proof of concept? A - Yes, the fidelity to delivery model as set out in the specification is key to the success of the service, DWP are using this proof of concept to develop and test the transfer of funding between DWP and local government.

4 Issue 2 Dates covered - 14 March 2017 to 17 March 2017 Q12 - Can existing Supported Employment Services be counted as financial commitment and be considered for match funding? A - Local authorities are required to match fund the proof of concept if they are selected to participate. Maintaining or expanding delivery of existing Supported Employment Services would be included as match funding as long as the existing service delivers the 'place and train' model. Q13 - Can more than one local authority submit a joint bid? A - No, each local authority are to make an individual bid for this proof of concept. In the evaluation, joint working across local authorities may be a consideration as part of the national scaling up of the initiative. Q14 How will the funding be provided? A - All funding for the proof of concept will be provided via a Compete Grant which we assume will be paid using Section 2 of the Employment and Training Act Some of the payments will be in the form of start-up costs and others will be paid in arrears on achievement of outcomes. The outcomes framework will be agreed with local authorities during the design workshops in April and May. Details of the grant payment will be included in a Memorandum of Understanding to be agreed between DWP and local authorities. Q15 - What is the funding profile? A - Funding profile refers to the budget allocated or planned spend for Supported Employment services covering the period of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019. Q16 - How is it possible to complete the expression of interest without details of the funding available? A - We haven t released details of the overall budget but we have secured funding to support eight Local Authorities to support around 94 participants per year. We expect local authorities to at least match the level of investment by DWP. The funding for outcome payments and payment models will be discussed and agreed as part of the design with the selected local authorities. There are a number of evaluation criteria that DWP will consider in making those decisions (Section 3.2 in the Specification and Section 13 in the Instructions to Local Authorities documents). Q17 What is the local authorities role in establishing participant eligibility? A - Section 5.4 of the Specification describes claimant eligibility (i.e. ESA and Universal Credit claimants with a learning disability or autism who are known to adult

5 social care or those in contact with secondary mental health services and who are not on any other DWP provision may participate in this proof of concept.) Eligibility will be checked with local Jobcentre Plus sites (e.g. telephone call to single point of contact to check claimant is on ESA or UC benefit and not on any other DWP provision, then 'refer' to Local Supported Employment). A process will be developed during the workshops with the selected local authorities and form part of the Design. DWP will use existing IT systems for this activity. Q18 Is the expression of interest open to submissions from Combined Authorities? See also Q1 & Q13 A - In the specification, DWP invited bids from local authorities operating as Tier 1 or Single Tier for this proof of concept. DWP can only consider bids from Tier 1 or Single Tier local authorities at this time. Joint bids from local authorities will not be considered, although there is no reason why a local authority cannot seek the input and advice of other local authorities in the formation of their expression of interest. Q19 What does known to adult social care" means in relation to this Proof of Concept? A - Clients should have been in touch with Adult Social Care services or been a service user (within the last year March 16-March 17). They do not need to be funded by this service currently to be eligible for Local Supported Employment proof of concept, but they must have had previous contact prior to March 2017.

6 Issue 3 Dates covered - 17 March 2017 to 24 March 2017 Q20 What is match funding and what can be used as match funding? A - For this proof of concept we would expect local authorities to at least match the level of investment by DWP. A small budget has been allocated for start-up costs for those local authorities who do not currently provide a service. This might be used for staff time, related training/upskilling or maintaining/expanding delivery of existing Supported Employment Services. This would be included as match funding as long as the existing service delivers the 'place and train' model. Q21 Would building on our existing model be acceptable for the expression of interest process? A - Yes, maintaining or expanding delivery of existing Supported Employment Services would be accepted as long as the existing service delivers the Supported Employment 'place and train' model. Q22 - Can European Social Fund (ESF) or in kind resources be used as matched resources? A - For this proof of concept we would expect local authorities to at least match the level of investment by DWP. A small budget has been allocated for start-up costs for those local authorities who do not currently provide a service. This might be used for staff time, related training/upskilling or maintaining/expanding delivery of existing Supported Employment Services. This would be included as match funding as long as the existing service delivers the 'place and train' model. If however you are looking to use the proof of concept Supported Employment provision as Match for your existing ESF provision then unfortunately you would not be able to do this. DWP, as a Co-Financing Organisation, retains the right to use any of its contracted provision to use as match-funding for its own ESF contracts. Q23 - What is the Payment by Results model? A - We haven t released details of the overall budget but we have secured funding to support eight local authorities to support around 94 participants per year. We expect local authorities to at least match the level of investment by DWP. The funding for outcome payments and payment models will be discussed and agreed as part of the design with the selected local authorities. Q24 Is there any funding for set up costs to support development? A - DWP has a small budget allocated for start up costs for those local authorities who do not currently provide a service. For example this might be used for staff related training or upskilling. Such funding will be discussed as part of the next stage of the process.

7 Q25 - Can you define the term outcome? A - The details of the outcome payments and definitions will be developed in partnership with the selected local authorities during the design workshops. Q26 Can referrals come through DWP Job Centres, or can they come from other avenues? A Local authorities will be responsible for generating the referral. Eligibility will be checked with local Jobcentre Plus sites (e.g. telephone call to single point of contact). A process will be developed during planned workshops with the selected local authorities and will form part of the design. Q27 Our local authority may not meet the average of 94 referrals to each local authority per year, what is the impact? A - We expect an average of 94 participants per local authority this will of course vary, some local authorities may have fewer participants but for costing purposes we have assumed an average of 94. Q28 In our local authority, we have both Rural and Urban areas, how should we reflect this in the Expression of Interest? A - Please refer to the link in the instructions; you are required to indicate if in your expression of interest if you are predominately rural or urban, we are looking to work with a mix of both rural ands urban local authorities for this proof of concept. Q29 - Has a Payment Model already been agreed and what are the amounts per outcome? A - No, this will be developed in partnership with the selected local authorities during the design workshops We haven t released details of the overall budget but we have secured funding to support eight local authorities to support around 94 participants per year. We expect local authorities to at least match the level of investment by DWP. The definition of outcomes will be agreed in discussion with the selected local authorities. Outcome payments are included in the match funding and the detail of the model will be developed in the design workshops after the selection exercise. Q30 - Can you define a 'start'? A - A 'start' will be an actual start on provision; however these definitions will be agreed in partnership with selected local authorities and form part of the design. The outcome payments will be developed in partnership with the selected local authorities during the design workshops

8 Q31 Is there a target for outputs? A - The definition of outputs, which we refer to as outcomes will be agreed in discussion with the selected local authorities. Q32 - Can existing Supported Employment be counted as match funding for this proof of concept? A - Yes, maintaining or expanding delivery of existing Supported Employment Services would be included as match funding as long as the existing service delivers the 'place and train' model. Q33 Where will referrals come from? A - The local authority will be responsible for generating the referral. Eligibility will be checked with local Jobcentre Plus sites (e.g. telephone call to single point of contact to check claimant is receiving Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit and not on any other DWP provision). A process will be developed during planned workshops with the selected local authorities and will form part of the design. Q34 Can we refer eligible individuals who are currently waiting for our service? A - This proof of concept is for participants who are new referrals to the service, and can therefore include those on a waiting list. Q35 - Can we include our existing staff and their caseloads? A Yes, you may use existing staff or recruit additional staff but the proof of concept is for new referrals to the service. Q36 What is the eligibility for individuals? A - Section 5.4 of the Specification describes claimant eligibility (i.e. Employment Support Allowance and Universal Credit claimants with a learning disability or autism who are known to adult social care or those in contact with secondary mental health services and who are not on any other DWP provision may participate in this proof of concept.) Q37 Is the match funding investment financial or can it be staff time or salaries? A For the Local Supported Employment proof of concept we would expect local authorities to at least match the level of investment by DWP. A small budget has

9 been allocated for start up costs for those local authorities who do not currently provide a service. This might be used for staff time, related training/upskilling or maintaining/expanding delivery of existing Supported Employment Services. This would be included as match funding as long as the existing service delivers the 'place and train' model. Q38 How does the Match Funding work in relation to outcome payments? A - The outcome payments will be developed in partnership with the selected local authorities during the design workshops We would expect local authorities to at least match the level of investment by DWP. A small budget has been allocated for start-up costs for those local authorities who do not currently provide a service. This might be used for staff time, related training/upskilling or maintaining/expanding delivery of existing Supported Employment Services. This would be included as match funding as long as the existing service delivers the 'place and train' model. Q39 How much would be paid for a successful outcome payment? A - The definition of outcomes will be agreed in discussion with the selected local authorities. The detail of the payment model will be developed in planned design workshops after the selection exercise. Q40 - Who defines and monitors the outcomes? A - This will be agreed in discussion with the selected local authorities. Q41 Have financial liability and conditions of service been determined? A - A Memorandum of Understanding will be agreed between DWP and the selected local authorities setting out the conditions of service which will cover financial liabilities and termination rights etc. Q42 - What is the IT infrastructure? A - We have specified that local authorities are able to use compatible software to enable the secure exchange of information e.g. Microsoft Office and secure accounts (.GOV.GSX.GCSX) Q43 Can groups of Local Authorities submit a bid? A - In the specification, DWP invited bids from local authorities operating as Tier 1 or Single Tier for this proof of concept. DWP can only consider bids from Tier 1 or Single Tier local authorities at this time. Joint bids from local authorities will not be considered, although there is no reason why a local authority cannot seek the input and advice of other local authorities in the formation of their expression of interest. Q 44 - Can bidders specify what outcomes they want to be funded for?

10 A - Outcome payments definitions will be agreed in partnership with selected local authorities and form part of the design. Q45 - Could outcomes be for other employments such as volunteering or unpaid? A - The outcome will be an actual start in paid employment. These definitions will be agreed in partnership with selected local authorities and form part of the design. Q46 What happens after the 18 months? A - If the proof of concept is successful we may look to expand it subject to funding being available. Q47 Our local authority currently provides supported employment using a contract with a third party organisation. Would the funding we supply to this organisation count as the match funding? A -Yes, this can include provision delivered in house or by a third party, local authorities are required to match fund the proof of concept if they are selected to participate. Maintaining or expanding delivery of existing Supported Employment Services would be included as match funding as long as the existing service delivers the 'place and train' model. Q48 Can our local authority submit a bid for only clients with learning difficulties, rather than secondary mental health? A - Yes, Section 5.4 of the Specification describes claimant eligibility (i.e. Employment Support Allowance and Universal Credit claimants with a learning disability or autism who are known to adult social care or those in contact with secondary mental health services and who are not on any other DWP provision may participate in this proof of concept.) Q49 - How (i.e. what data will we collect) will we monitor the proof of concept to ensure that the Values of Supported Employment are being properly adhered to? A - The detail of how to do this will be agreed in the workshop