Learning & Employability Network Workplan 2006/07 Summary The LEN workplan for 2006/07 builds on progress made by the LEN in 2005/06 on existing strategies such as the Economic Development Strategy and the WEMNA Action Plan. It incorporates new priorities which have emerged or have been further developed in the past year, for example Building Schools for the Future, the Local Area Agreement and One City. The LEN will be taking on a number of new responsibilities around the management of funding and the LAA. Some of these new priorities are still to be developed and may require the LEN to revise its remit in forthcoming months. There are also a number of opportunities for the LEN to work more closely with other WCP networks on projects with cross-cutting priorities, including the Children & Young People’s Partnership and the Health & Care Network. Key strands of the LEN Workplan 2006/07 1. Co-ordinate & deliver key Economic Development & Civic Enterprise priorities The Civic Enterprise strand of the City Council’s 5 year plan for Westminster, One City, will set out priorities for improving the employability of our residents and skills levels of young people. The LEN will continue its commitment to supporting employability priorities in the EDS. 2. Secure and manage on-going funding for key partnership programmes From 2006/07 WCP thematic networks will be taking on new responsibilities for the management of funding such as NRF and performance monitoring as required by the Local Area Agreement. LEN partners also have a key role to play in identifying funding and co-ordinating bids supporting employability programmes. 3. Enhance the information exchange and policy function of the LEN In 2005/06 the LEN evolved into a strong information exchange, supported by a bimonthly Bulletin and web-pages. These information sources will be further developed to include regular progress reports on commitments such as NRF projects and LPSA targets. 4. Contribute to City-wide strategies and the work of other WCP networks The LEN has an important role in contributing to new and existing strategies such as the revised City Plan, the WEMNA Action Plan and Pledges, the Building Schools for the Future Agenda and the LAA. There are also increased opportunities for joint network working on cross cutting agendas. 1 1. Co-ordinate & deliver key Economic Development and Civic Enterprise priorities Action Source Date to be achieved Proposed lead LEN Partner / other partners Projected outcomes Developing a range of employment opportunities for young people One City – Civic Enterprise vision / Children’s Services O&S Ongoing WCC Children & Community Services & Policy Unit / FE colleges / Paddington Development Trust Xxx young people accessing enterprise skills development or support EDS March 2007 Develop youth enterprise skills in partnership with the Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership Increase vocational opportunities through work placements and apprenticeships Develop an employability project in partnership with Bovis to provide careers opportunities in the construction industry Signposting of information NRF/ LPSA / EDS March 2008 WCC Housing Strategy / WCC Children & Community Services / Westminster Employment Service / Volunteer Centre Westminster Develop a programme of support for adults in temporary accommodation to access employment Provide long term unemployed residents and hard to reach groups with preemployment support through volunteering opportunities Support pilot project assisting Incapacity Benefit claimants into training and employment in Harrow Rd & Westbourne in partnership with the Health & Care Network Providing opportunities for skills development Support the delivery of English language learning in Westminster’s Neighbourhood Renewal areas through qualified tutors and community activities. WCC Policy Unit Improved access to information on training and employment opportunities across the City. Paddington First/SW1st/ WES / WAES/ WCC Children & Community Services / WCC Children’s Information Service / Westminster Mind Seek funding to develop a City-wide service to co-ordinate better access to information on training and employment support for local residents Job Brokerage Xxx young people undertaking work experience placements or apprenticeships with Westminster employers Delivery of LPSA target: 4,730 people to undertake formal volunteering by 2009 Delivery of LPSA target: 986 disadvantaged residents into sustainable employment (targeting lone parents & Incapacity Benefit claimants) 60 people in Temporary Accommodation accessing paid employment 50 people in Temporary Accommodation accessing training EDS Ongoing WAES/ Vital Regeneration/ FE Colleges/LARPs Xxx people accessing English language training Xxx people accessing employment advice and signposting 2 2. Secure and manage on-going funding for key partnership programmes Action Source Neighbourhood Renewal 2006-08 - LAA Ongoing WCC Policy Unit / LEN Performance Management Group Delivery of range of projects supporting xxx beneficiaries EDS Ongoing Paddington First / WCC Policy & City Planning / PDT Funding secured for Paddington First service Funding secured for SW1st Ongoing WCC Policy and Children & Community Services / Westminster Employment Service / Westminster Mind Funding secured for job brokerage projects EDS LPSA Ongoing WCC Policy / LEN Performance Management Group Delivery of LPSA target: 4,730 people to undertake formal volunteering by 2009 Management and scrutiny of NRF and NRF/ESF projects funded by LEN allocation Local Area Agreement - Proposed lead LEN Partner / other partners Westminster City Council / LEN Performance Management Group Projected outcomes NRF Date to be achieved Ongoing Managing LEN funded projects and reporting on their performance through the development of a Performance Management Group Range of projects supporting training and job brokerage supporting c. 260 beneficiaries Job brokerage - - Secure ongoing funding for the delivery of Paddington First and SW1st services Secure ongoing funding for job brokerage projects supporting careleavers, lone parents, disabled people and residents with mental health needs LPSA Targets Support and monitor the delivery of job brokerage LPSA targets (as detailed in Priority 1) Delivery of LPSA target: 986 disadvantaged residents into sustainable employment (targeting lone parents & Incapacity Benefit claimants) 3 3. Enhance the information exchange & policy function for the LEN Action Source LEN Bulletin & Web page LEN Away Day 2005 Date to be achieved Proposed lead LEN Partner / other partners Projected outcome - Develop LEN bulletin to inform partners & LARPs of progress against commitments and targets i.e. NRF, LAA, LPSA For each meeting WCC Policy Unit Regular bulletins developed for LEN partners - Provide a quarterly labour market briefing for partners Quarterly Job Centre Plus / Learning & Skills Council / WCC Policy Unit Key data to inform work of the LEN e.g. developing funding bids - Continue to develop LEN web page ongoing WCC Policy Unit Range of information available on LEN web page For each meeting WCC Policy Unit to co-ordinate. Closer working with LARPs and other WCP Networks (in developing papers) LEN Discussion Papers - Develop discussion papers with partners to inform meetings setting out key statistics, programmes, challenges and areas for further work. Papers could include: LEN Away Day 2005 Joint projects identified to take forward the LEN agenda. 1. Using contracts to increase local labour in Westminster 2. Disability & employability 3. Supporting adults back into work 4. Partners’ contribution to achieving employment floor targets 5. Volunteering & employability 6. Developing a skills and volunteering strategy for the Olympics 4 4. Contribute to City wide strategies and the work of other WCP networks Action Source Westminster City Plan WCP - Contribute to the development of the revised City Plan Joint working with other networks - Projected outcome LEN priorities reflected in an updated Westminster City Plan All LEN partners to contribute WCP Ongoing All LEN partners to contribute Increased joined up/cross network working and reduced duplication ODPM Ongoing WCC Policy Unit Delivery of LEN assigned outcomes in Economic Development strand of the LAA All LEN partners to contribute LEN to take forward key outcomes on supporting people into work WEMNA - Proposed lead LEN Partner / other partners WCC Policy Support the work of the Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership’s Children & Young People’s Plan Support Housing Network lobbying for changes to benefits for residents in temporary accommodation Take on joint projects with other networks supporting people into training or employment Local Area Agreement Date to be achieved Autumn 2006 WEMNA Deliver LEN commitments on learning, employment and skills as set out in the WEMNA Action Plan. Progress report to WCP every 6 months BME Network There is a range of individual leads for actions set out in the WEMNA Action Plan. Review WEMNA commitments / actions linked to employment, training & education Building Schools for the Future Delivery of commitments set out in existing WEMNA Action Plan Xxx BME communities accessing jobs and learning opportunities Development of new projects to take forward the WEMNA Pledge WCC BSF Team Ongoing All LEN partners to contribute - LEN to contribute 5