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European Social Fund (ESF) – Jobmaets Programme 2007-2010

Jobmaets  - what its about and how you can get involved.

Jobmaets is one of the major new programmes to help people get into work and achieve the government’s challenging target of 80% employment in the UK. The aim of the programme is to provide the comprehensive help needed to support people (including the long term unemployed, people moving off invalidity benefit, carers and single parents) to move into sustainable employment.

Jobmaets (Multi Agency Employment Teams) is making the “customer journey” central and are aiming to provide the all round support that people will need as a “seamless service”.

The funding for this programme has gone out in large sub-regional contracts beyond the capacity of the voluntary sector, but will rely on the involvement of local agencies and, essentially, groups in our sector who have good connections with vulnerable and disadvantaged people. It is these people who the DWP are aiming through this programme to help into employment and who they will need to succeed with to reach the magic 80% figure.

One of the great hopes of the Jobmaets programme is that it will start from where individuals are at and provide a range of “holistic, tailored support” (including help with housing, health, financial and advocacy issues) and a seamless route through to the Skills for Jobs programme.

Jobmaets is funded by the European Social Fund and Department of Work and Pensions.

Below is information we received from the Job Centre Plus team about the thinking behind Jobmaets and the contact details of the Lead Providers.

How can we, in the sector, get involved?

If you get in touch with the Lead Providers (contact details below), you'll be able to get details of how Jobmaets is going to work in your area. This will enable you to provide information to the people you work with and put them in touch with the programme.

Some VCS groups are named partners in the Jobmaets contracts. Ask the Lead Providers for their details and contact them. You may be able to work in partnership to deliver part of the service. Also, some Lead Providers may not have all the necessary support organisations lined up and may have resources that you can use to contribute to the aims of the programme.

Any problems??

Chris Beech, the Regional European Social Fund Manager, wants to ensure that each beneficiary’s experience of the programme is successful. Her email is chris.beech@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk  

Other Jobmaets programme contact details are below.

CEFET would like to hear from any groups who need support with any aspect of the Jobmaets programme and also let us know where you think it's working particularly well. Contact Clare Caves at CEFET – 0115 911 0419 or info@cefet.org.uk

Information from Job Centre Plus East Midlands Office:

European Social Fund (ESF) – Jobmaets Programme 2007-2010

The 23rd June 2008 has seen the launch of the 2007-2010 European Social Fund Jobmaets (Multi Agency Employment Teams) programme across the East Midlands.

This is an exciting development involving the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) who will work through contracted provider partners to deliver six Jobmaets projects over the next three years.

Jobmaets are direct delivery groups that serve a specific local area. Their purpose is to draw together employer-facing staff with client-facing staff to identify local needs. Priorities and actions required to place workless people into jobs.

A core principle of the programme is that specialist service providers (drugs, debt, health etc) and voluntary and community groups and organisations will work together to provide a seamless service to help disadvantaged customers into work.

The East Midlands Employment, Skills and Productivity Partnership (esp) supports the programme and its incorporated activities because it –

• Draws on local knowledge to develop responses and co-ordination to meet customer needs;
• Provides contact and support networks for the target groups through outreach provision;
• Offers ongoing support through links with supporting specialist agencies and community networks;
• Works closely with employers.

Provider Details -

For further information, please contact -