As this is a ten-year plan to achieve an 80% employment rate in Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent there are many further phases and actions which need to be delivered.
Government guidance around initial local GBW plans, to be published in September, identifies a number of key elements which need be included, these are:
· details of the governance processes related to sign-off and how the partnership have and will continue to be involved
· detail of how wider stakeholders have and will continue to be engaged
· analysis of key local labour market challenges and drivers for different groups of people across the economy, ensuring collective agreement on these key local issues
· a clear plan of action for how partners will work together to develop support and services that address local priorities, improve local outcome indicators in line with Get Britain Working outcome metrics
· an overview of the current landscape of support (for individuals and employers) and the differing responsibilities and contributions of different stakeholders
· actions for the next 18-24 months and steps towards achieving longer-term objectives
The DWP recognises that the full scope of this ambition may not be possible in all areas. In such cases local areas are asked to prioritise key aspects of the plan with a view to meeting requirements outline above over time. These key aspects are:
· establishing the formal governance arrangements
· agreeing ways of working with partners
· analysing economic inactivity data and causes
· mapping existing provision for inactive cohorts
· identifying any duplication, gaps and opportunities for future action
The guidance also states that local partners should support lead local authorities for each place to develop their plans. The role of the partnership includes:
· providing intelligence on local labour market challenges
· identifying employment barriers faced by different groups and in different parts of the local Get Britain Working plan area
· identifying provision delivered through their organisations
· proposing interventions and promoting cross-sector collaboration
· identifying and addressing duplication and supporting synergies
Based on the above guidance and as the partnership and governance structures develop moving forwards, there are already a number of emerging priority actions for developing the local plan further leading to system change. The priority actions for the next 12-24 months include:
· Begin to address economic inactivity through the delivery of the Connect to Work Programme in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent.
· Engage with all local authorities, Jobcentre Plus and health leaders in seeking approval of the approach to the plan development.
· Engage with senior leaders to brief on GBW plan development from each of the 10 Local Authorities in Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent and the health sector to seek their contribution and support of the plan and in developing its partnership and governance arrangements.
· Map stakeholders and partners taking account of the emerging Connect to Work landscape. To consider the opportunities to capture the employer voice and the service users voice through co-production, to inform the development of the GBW Plan.
· Draw up a stakeholder engagement plan to consult on the local agreed approach, including a stakeholder summit and thematic groups looking at priority areas of the plan e.g. employers, young people, disability and health. To include consultation with system users to understand lived experience and enable co-production of a people centred plan e.g. voice of young people at risk of becoming NEET.
· Commission a mapping and review of existing support services for economically inactive, young people who are NEET and risk of NEET, people at risk of dropping out of work and those facing barriers to work e.g. caring responsibilities, homelessness, alcohol and drug misuse, care experience, or ex-offenders.
· Commission a review of the effectiveness of employer engagement strategies across partners with a view to work towards a longer-term common approach.
· Work with the LSIP, employer representatives and businesses to improve the understanding of employment opportunities available now and in the future and how these can be used to inform the support for people to develop their skills, get into work, develop a career and support career progression.
· Explore arrangements for better collaboration in understanding the local labour market that will inform and oversee the development and delivery of the GBW plan, including how the plan has impacted inequalities and addressed the needs of different demographic groups, including BME.
What makes this plan different is that it’s built on partnership and shared endeavour. Those contributing to it are committed to making our ambitions a reality. We want people from all backgrounds and abilities to fulfil their potential and as devolution plans develop, we look forward to working with partners across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent and beyond to capitalise on the stronger workforce created through this plan.
But above all, we’re committed to making sure Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent is a place where everyone can thrive; harnessing and growing our skills base to enable residents and businesses to maximise future opportunities and make prosperity a reality for all.
The local GBW plan is a long-term live plan, being developed during a period of significant local governance change including local authorities going through local government reorganisation and devolution, DWP Job Centre Plus merging with the National Careers Service, and the ICB facing significant efficiency savings.
During this substantial change the partnership project group will oversee its continued development with updates to the plan as needed, and effective monitoring of progression and performance against our intended vision, outcome ambitions and strategic priorities.