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Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre

Ardwick Green North
Manchester
M12 6FZ
Tel: 0161 276 9300
Fax: 0161 276 9301
Email: info@vsnw.org.uk

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Work Programme - can the voluntary sector effectively participate?

30 January 2012

There is serious concern over the power of the voluntary sector in delivering employment-related services under the Work Programme. TSRC is conducting research to explore the third sector’s involvement in the provision of employment services, how subcontractors are experiencing the Work Programme, and to investigate what, if anything, is distinctive about the approaches to delivery that subcontractors adopt.

Their initial evidence review collates evidence about the sector's experiences and explores the main areas of controversy. The review finds that the current situation can be seen as a major acceleration of the previous government’s policy model. This model is based upon a small number of large government contracts, greater flexibility for providers and payment contingent on results.It highlights fears that the third sector is being squeezed out of employment services provision, reports of unfair relationships between third sector subcontractors and prime providers, and concerns that the hardest to help individuals are not sufficiently provided for by current policy.

The review questions whether the programme’s framework will allow TSOs to fulfil their potential in this area. It also highlights the need to know more about third sector delivery of employment services, in particular what organisations are involved and what value they provide.

Using focus groups and case studies of subcontractor organisations, TSRC will continue to research in this area to explore the questions raised by the review in more detail.

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