FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR THE PROVISION OF EMPLOYMENT RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES

Description of the Services: The Department for Work and Pensions (“the DWP”) wishes to establish a framework agreement for the provision of employment related support services, helping people to select, train for, obtain and retain employment suitable for their ages and capacities. Organisations should note that the types of employment related support services required may vary over time, and according to the needs of the individuals being supported.

The framework competition will identify organisations (including consortia) that have the capacity and expertise to deliver not only the Work Programme but also other potential employment related support services contracts. This may also include contracts that may attract European Social Fund (“ESF”) support.

The Work Programme will be a new approach to delivering employment related support services. It will simplify the complex array of existing employment programmes and deliver coherent, integrated support more capable of dealing with complex and overlapping barriers to work, providing personalised help for people who find themselves out of work regardless of the benefit they claim.

The Work Programme may be used by the DWP as match for its ESF Co-financing arrangements and where this applies Work Programme providers will be required to meet a range of ESF requirements.

The Work Programme will give providers longer to work with individuals and greater freedom to decide the appropriate support for them. There will be stronger incentives for organisations to work with the harder to help and place them into work.