Agenda item

Since 2007/08 Overview & Scrutiny Committee has taken an interest in monitoring development of the programme of work placement opportunities being made available across the Council.  In order to monitor ongoing activity in this area, the Committee has requested a progress update on the development of these opportunities with the following briefings provided:

 

5.1    Annual monitoring report on the provision of placement opportunities being offered through the Enfield Work Experience programme, operated via Enfield Business Partnership: Sept 08 – July 09  (Pages - )

 

Attached for consideration is the second annual monitoring report provided for CMB, from the Co-Directors of Education, Children’s Services & Leisure, outlining the number of work placement opportunities provided between Sept 08 – July 09, across the Council.  Members are asked to note that the annual monitoring report was introduced, following a recommendation made by Overview & Scrutiny Committee (March 08).

 

Jenny Tosh (Acting Assistant Director Inclusion & Workforce Development Manager) will be attending the meeting to present the annual monitoring report.

 

5.2    Development of a Council wide Apprenticeship Scheme: Progress Update  (Pages - )

 

To receive a briefing paper from the Assistant Director Human Resources on the progress being made with establishment of an Apprenticeship scheme by the Council.  Jo Clemente (Head of Learning & Development) will be attending the meeting to present this item.

 

5.3       Summer Work Out Scheme: Progress Update

 

To receive a briefing paper from the Director of Place Shaping & Enterprise providing an update on introduction of the summer work out scheme and progress on a bid to the Future Jobs fund.  John Haslem (Head of Economic Development) will be attending the meeting to present this item.TO FOLLOW

 

Having considered these updates the Committee will be asked to consider any further monitoring activity they wish to undertake.

As part of its ongoing interest in the development of work experience placements within the Council, dating back to a review undertaken in 2007/08, Overview & Scrutiny Committee (OSC) received the following updates on key areas of progress.

 

1.1       Annual monitoring report on provision of placement opportunities through the Enfield Work Experience programme operated by Enfield Business Partnership: September 08 – July 09

 

OSC received the second annual monitoring report from the Co-Directors of Education, Children’s Services and Leisure & Enfield Business Partnership (EBP) on the number of placement opportunities being offered through the Enfield Work Experience programme.  As background Members were reminded that the annual report had been introduced, following a recommendation made by OSC in March 08, as a means of monitoring the number of placements being offered under the programme across the Council.  The annual report had been considered by CMB and was presented by Jenny Tosh (Acting Assistant Director Education).  The Committee noted:

1.      The increase of approx 25% in the overall number of work placements being offered by the Council under the programme for the 2008/09 academic year, with an increase of 30% in the proportion of placements being used.

2.      The reasons for placements not being used as detailed in the report.

3.      The efforts and action undertaken by EBP during 2008/09 to increase the number of work placement opportunities within the Council as detailed within the monitoring report

4.            The following strategic issues identified as impacting on the ongoing provision of work placement opportunities:

a.      other demands for work placements within the Council;

b.      development of the Enfield Skills & Employment Strategy and proposals within the “Unleashing Aspiration” report recommending an overhaul of work experience arrangements;

c.      development of the Council’s LEANER and Desktop transformation programme;

d.      effect of the recession; and

e.      Curriculum changes involving the introduction of a range of new diplomas that required students to complete a programme of work experience;

5.      The future plans to sustain/increase the number and quality of work placements across the Council available through EBP’s work experience programme, as detailed within the monitoring report.

 

The following issues were raised by members on the annual monitoring report:

 

(a)    details were sought on the nature of the placements being offered under the programme.  Jenny Tosh advised that the placements were mainly aimed at the 14-16 year age range (Year 10) and offered a short 10 day block of work experience for pupils whilst still at school.

 

(b)    the need to carefully manage the transition currently underway in funding arrangements designed to support the development of work experience and other training initiatives.

 

(c)     the commitment required from employers when offering placements and need, in order to encourage wider engagement in the programme (particularly from within the private sector), to look at how the requirements on those interested in participating could be relaxed, whilst ensuring the welfare and safety of pupils on placement was maintained.  In addition to the health & safety and confidentiality issues needing to be followed when working with young people, Jenny Tosh advised that the commitment on employers in terms of the level of supervision, training and office space in order to accommodate short term placements and provide a meaningful work experience had been recognised.  EBP was fully committed to supporting and engaging with the schools and employers in order to address these issues but the increasing focus on safeguarding meant it was now even more important to ensure the necessary checks were in place to provide a safe experience.  There were also some work environments where it would not be suitable to offer placements on health & safety grounds.

 

(d)    the need to ensure that the work placement provided not only a meaningful but also realistic experience of the working environment.  In response Jenny Tosh highlighted the efforts made by EBP, working in partnership with the schools and employers, to provide suitable placement opportunities designed to provide a realistic experience of work and help pupils begin to consider their future career paths.

 

As no further issues were raised the Chairman thanked Jenny Tosh for the information provided.

 

AGREED that

 

(1)    whilst highlighting a need to look at ways in which the commitment on employers interested in participating with the programme could be managed, in order to encourage more involvement particularly from small businesses in the private sector, OSC was keen to:

 

(a)    welcome the annual monitoring report and progress being made in development of the programme;

 

(b)    recognise the benefits and fully support the work experience programme and ongoing work being undertaken by EBP to develop the number and range of placements being offered and provide a positive and safe work placement experience.

 

(2)    in order to keep the progress being made with the provision of work experience placements across the Council under review Overview & Scrutiny Committee continue to receive the annual monitoring report from EBP.

 

1.2    Development of a Council Apprenticeship Scheme: Progress Update

 

OSC received a briefing paper from Jo Clemente (Head of Learning & Development) outlining the progress being made with introduction of a council wide post 16 Apprenticeship scheme.

 

NOTED

1.      The paper highlighted the national and regional context towards development of an apprenticeship programme and way in which the scheme had been designed to work in Enfield.

2.      Enfield’s commitment to London Councils to take on 100 apprentices between 2008-2012, with the offer being expanded to cover not only  Business Administration but a much wider range of services including parks, customer services, teaching assistants, care, housing, sports coaching etc.

3.      Training costs under the scheme would be fully funded by the Learning and Skills Council for those aged 16-18, with a contribution for those aged over 19.  The Working Neighbourhood Fund would part fund the salary costs for the scheme.  There were currently 14 apprentices working across the Council, mainly sourced through Enfield Training Services, with the target and funding for 2009/10 to place a total of 45.

 

The following issues were raised by members on the scheme:

 

(a)     Details were sought on the status of apprentices placed within the Council under the scheme.  Jo Clemente advised that the apprentices would have employed status (although not in substantive posts) and would undertake work based learning alongside key skills qualifications and job specific technical skills under existing NVQ programmes sourced through a range of local providers and the National Apprenticeship Service.  The average length of an apprenticeship would be 12 months.  In addition the scheme would also be looking to include young people supported by the Leaving Care Team.

 

(b)     The need to encourage the Council’s partners and contractors to support the scheme, which Jo Clemente advised was already subject to ongoing discussions.  Those involved included Enfield HOMES, a care organisation and the Primary Care Trust.

 

(c)     whilst recognising the benefits of the apprenticeship scheme, members highlighted a need to ensure it was able to provide clear and cost effective benefits for the Council as well as those individuals being placed, particularly given the increasing pressure on funding within the public sector.  In response members attention was drawn to the list of benefits already being realised through the scheme by the Council, as detailed in section 2.2 of the briefing paper.

 

(d)     following on from the issues raised under (c) above members sought further details on the options that would be available in terms of the Council being able to retain apprentices once they had completed the scheme, given the time and commitment invested in their development and limited availability of posts given the current agency arrangements.  Jo Clemente confirmed that it was not possible to guarantee full time employment at the end of the scheme to any apprentice, although they would be offered the opportunity to apply for any suitable posts that were available within the Council.  In addition it was planned to allow them access to the redeployment process as well as providing career guidance and access to interview skills etc training.  Discussions were also ongoing with a range of partners to identify further job opportunities.  The progress made by apprentices in gaining employment was tracked and monitored by the current main provider, Enfield Training Services.

 

(e)     members support for the ongoing development of the apprenticeship scheme, including extension of the offer beyond business administration towards more “outdoor” or specialist focussed placements.  Particular support was expressed for the scheme to be used as a means of developing the workforce (in view of its ageing profile).

 

AGREED that

 

(1)     OSC refer the briefing paper onto Cabinet in order to:

 

(a)     highlight its support for the apprenticeship scheme and associated benefits along with progress being made on its development (including as an addition details on the outcome of the internal manager awareness raising event held on 2 November 09); and

 

(b)     seek support for the work being undertaken to engage with other partners and external providers (including the private sector) in terms of developing the scheme

 

(2)     OSC continue to receive an annual monitoring update on progress of the Apprenticeship scheme.

 

1.3    Briefing on Summer Work Out scheme and bid to Future Jobs Fund

 

OSC received a briefing paper from John Haslem (Head of Economic Development) providing details on the Enfield Summer Work-Out programme and bid to the Future Jobs Fund.

 

NOTED

1.            The work-out programme had been established as the result of a London Mayoral initiative with the aim of providing 100 paid community work placements for Enfield school leavers (initially aged 16-19) without an offer of employment, education or training from September 09.

2.            Enfield had been one of four London Boroughs to adopt the scheme, which was being funded through the Working Neighbourhood Fund (£60k) and London Development Agency (£50k).

3.            The aims and objectives of the scheme, as detailed in the briefing paper provided for the Committee, which had been designed to engage in activities supporting the Council’s cleaner greener agenda.

4.            The achievements of the scheme to date, as detailed in the report.

5.            Despite a marketing programme having been undertaken, 40 placements still remained to be filled so the programme had been relaunched in October 09 as the Enfield Work-Out with the offer extended to 20-24 year olds.

6.            In addition to the Work-Out scheme a Future Jobs Fund bid had also been submitted, seeking to provide 142 6 month jobs (with direct community benefit) for 18-24 year olds who had been unemployed for over 9 months.  The outcome of this bid would be known by mid November with the aim, if successful, of starting the scheme in the new year.  The aim would be to engage with a wide range of internal and external partners to generate job opportunities including the voluntary sector.

 

The following issues were raised by members on the update:

 

(a)    members again welcomed the report and activity being undertaken to provide job experience opportunities for young people through the Work-Out and Future Jobs Fund schemes.

 

(b)    details were sought on the opportunities available through the scheme to young people with disabilities.  John Haslem advised that the target client profile included at least 10% of people with disabilities, who would be eligible to apply for the scheme.

 

(c)     details were sought on the marketing of the Work-Out scheme, which members noted had included a letter to all school leavers, leaflets, promotion through Connexions job centres, libraries, Young People’s Service Youth Engagement Team, Enfield Training Services and other networks including the Council’s website.  The extension of the scheme would include publicity at a local cinema and on a Myspace website.

 

AGREED that OSC continue to receive an annual monitoring update on progress of the Work-Out and (subject to success of the bid) Future Jobs Fund scheme.

 

Councillor Martin Prescott declared a personal and prejudicial interest in 1.3 above as the Director of a company that had also submitted a bid under the Future Jobs Fund.  He left the meeting, without speaking, for the duration of this item.  Councillor Ann-Marie Pearce (as vice-chairman) took over as chairman of the meeting for this item.