UKCES

This project is a scoping one, and aims to identify employment and skills outcomes for the most excluded in society. It also assesses whether the current performance management and funding framework encourages providers to work with the hardest to help, and will explore options of delivery that will improve outcomes for socially excluded groups.

Tackling Exclusion will initially focus on the following targeted groups who are particularly vulnerable to multiple forms of disadvantage that makes them at risk of falling into persistent exclusion:

• People with health problems/disability and/or learning disabilities
• People with mental health problems
• Ex-offenders
• Homeless people
• Recent migrants and different ethnic groups.

The project will also draw evidence from current projects underway both within the UK Commission’s Strategy and Performance team’s workplan and outside. The findings from the following two projects in particular will be used to inform and expand the work of this project:

• The Customer Journey project, which investigates the individual’s experience of the employment and skills system on their journey into work, progression in work and training. The project will particularly build on the stream of works that looks into the role of the personal advisors and the review of the customer experience of the support provided
• The Review of System Measures, Targets and Incentives project, which is looking at what really drives provider performance and behaviour and which findings will ascertain to what extent the system really incentivises providers to work with socially excluded groups.

Furthermore this project will build on the work already done by those involved with PSA 16 which aims to improve the employment outcomes for socially excluded groups.

The Tackling Exclusion project runs from May 2009 to March 2010. It will produce a briefing paper on findings and will make recommendations for further work to be carried forward in future business years.

The project team will draw upon expert advisors to our Strategy and Performance Directorate and consult regularly with the Champion Commissioner, the Systems Review Committee and with key stakeholders to ensure the credibility, validity and feasibility of its findings and recommendations.

For further information on the project please contact David Massey and Woubi Assefa