Summary
This Report examines the use of personal advisers by
Jobcentre Plus, including whether they are effective in helping people into
work. Independent research cited in the Paper suggests that the use of personal
advisers has resulted in greater numbers of people coming off benefits.
Jobcentre Plus, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, is
responsibile for supporting people in moving from welfare into work.
It
employs 9,300 personal advisers at a salary cost of £238 million in 2005-06.
Advisers offer support depending on client needs and their role is important
for achieving the Government's long-term aim of reaching more harder-to-help
clients to enter employment (particularly those on incapacity benefit).
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How does it affect
me?
If you are a customer of Job Centre Plus or work for Job Centre
Plus, this affects you.
The report finds that personal advisers have had
a positive impact in raising customers' confidence and job-seeking skills, and
independent research suggests the use of personal advisers is associated with
greater numbers of people coming off benefits.
Recommendations to
further improve productivity include reducing time spent on paperwork and
increasing the amount of time spent advising customers.
