Written evidence submitted by Turning
Point
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Turning Point welcomes the opportunity to respond
to the Work and Pensions Committee consultation on the "Universal
Credit: Welfare that Works" white paper. We are specifically
supportive of the committee's focus on addressing the areas within
the White Paper which require further development; this is a concern
as we must be cautious that the unintended consequences of welfare
reform do not cause further harm to the wellbeing of the long-term
unemployed. The consultation specifically asks for the areas which
respondents feel have not been given adequate attention within
the White Paper. Turning Point believes there is room for further
details of the support that can be established to not only help
people find employment but also offer a timely intervention to
prevent people from exiting employment through long-term sickness
absence.
1.2 Turning Point is a leading health and social
care organisation. We focus on the individual in everything we
do and specialise in providing services for people with complex
needs, including those affected by substance misuse, mental health
problems and those with a learning disability.
1.3 Turning Point provide employment programmes and
personalised, work-focused support for people with substance misuse
issues, mental health needs, people with a learning disability
as well as people with offending histories.
SUMMARY OF
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
1. In times of high unemployment it is easy to forget
that there are two-tiers of the unemployed, those who are close
to the labour market and those who are not. The causes of long-term
unemployment must be fully understood before it is tackled, the
Work Programme will be fundamental in this but the White Paper
should have a greater focus on how sanctions can be matched with
adequate support.
2. The importance of resilient and robust mental
health to both gaining and retaining employment cannot be forgotten.
Effective support to tackle long-term unemployment while also
supporting people who may be close to exiting employment has to
take into account the holistic needs of the individual.
2.0 In times of high unemployment it is easy to
forget that there are two-tiers of the unemployed, those who are
close to the labour market and those who are not. the causes of
long-term unemployment must be fully understood before it is tackled,
the Work Programme will be fundamental in this but the White Paper
should have a greater focus on how sanctions can be matched with
adequate support
2.1 There are two principles behind the Universal
Credit; it intends to reduce the complexity of the system while
also addressing the high-number of people who are long-term unemployed.
Recent statistics suggest that 2.5 million people in the UK are
unemployed and this high level is reflective of the difficult
labour market the unemployed are competing in, as well as the
challenge faced by services to support the long-term unemployed
progress towards the labour market.
2.2 Turning Point believes the dual approach behind
the Universal Credit is necessary both for the savings it will
make for the state and also to help people realise their potential.
Nevertheless, it is important that any reform of the welfare system
is undertaken in parallel with understanding the key contributory
factors which can lead to long-term unemployment. It is only when
these factors are addressed that any progress can be made in challenging
welfare dependency. In a time of high-unemployment, it is possible
that two-tiers of the unemployed will be created, those who are
fairly well skilled and remain close to the job market; and those
who have never been close to employment and will be marginalised
even further by the increased competition for jobs. The Work Programme
will be fundamental in addressing these concerns; nevertheless,
the White Paper should have a greater focus on the support that
will be offered to address the holistic needs of the long-term
unemployed.
3. The importance of resilient and robust mental
health to both gaining and retaining employment cannot be forgotten.
Effective support to tackle long-term unemployment while also
supporting people who may be close to exiting employment has to
take into account the holistic needs of the individual
3.1 Just as those who are migrated away from ESA
require support, so do those who are close to exiting from employment
through long-term absence. This suggests that a two-pronged approach
rooted in early intervention is needed, one which supports the
long-term unemployed get the support needed to progress them towards
the labour market, as well as a parallel approach which will support
those in employment who are experiencing difficulties which may
eventually lead them to exiting the labour market.
3.2 Addressing mental health conditions is crucial
to this approach, mental ill health costs £105 billion a
year in England, with £30-40 billion of this loss attributed
to lost productivity and NHS costs. Mental health is also recognised
as the most common reason for claiming health-related benefits
with 86% remaining on benefits for more than three months (compared
to 76% for other claimants).[181]
3.3 Therefore, it is important that support offered
to the long-term unemployed addresses the mental health needs
of the individual. Nevertheless, the reasons behind unemployment
are complex and each individual will have their own explanation
for why they are long-term unemployed. Sustaining employment is
dependent, amongst other things, on having stable housing, freedom
from substance misuse and mental health difficulties, a positive
social network, as well as the right mix of skills required by
the employer. Support for the unemployed needs to be flexible
enough to respond to these demands.
3.4 Turning Point believes our Rightsteps Employment
model offers a service which can address the needs of both the
long-term unemployed as well as those who are close to exiting
employment through long-term sickness absence.
3.5 Rightsteps Employment
Rightsteps is Turning Point's Improving Access to
Psychological Therapies (IAPT) model, which provides assessment
and holistic support for common mental health difficulties. Rightsteps
Employment uses the Rightsteps model and is intended to provide
a flexible response to address the challenges which are preventing
individuals from either finding employment or leave them at risk
of exiting employment.
We believe that Rightsteps Employment offers a personalised
service that fully supports the individual in their search for
employment. The model is also able to respond to the very different
needs of people with low-level mental health requirements who
are perhaps becoming regular absentees at work and need a small
amount of support to enable them to address these problems.
Within Rightsteps Employment model, support is given
to the individual to address their mental health condition, learning
disability or substance misuse issues while also promoting interventions
which improve their employability. These interventions can range
from low-intensity advice on the basics of looking for a job to
more intensive support, such as counselling in how to manage stress
and problem-solving. An initial telephone assessment highlights
any personal difficulties an individual is facing and helps to
speed-up the referral process. The service also highlights any
sources of outside support available and, as such, can respond
to the needs of both the long-term unemployed and those who are
closer to gaining employment.
The key to Rightsteps Employment is that it offers
a support service which is easily accessible; this means that
people would be able to get support as soon as it is needed.
3.6 Rightsteps Employment can help support people
both into employment and also support them to remain in employment.
In addition to the human benefits of this, there are positive
effects for the state by reducing benefits while also increasing
tax revenue. Similarly, when Rightsteps Employment is applied
to those who are at risk of losing employment through unaddressed
personal challenges, it can also help to support people become
more engaged in their employment and therefore more productive.
4.0 Cost-Benefit of Rightsteps
4.1 These benefits can be seen in the cost-benefit
work Turning Point has recently had completed on the Rightsteps
model by the London School of Economics' Personal Social Services
Research Unit. Findings suggest the model has the potential to
respond to the increasing demand for employment-related support.
Analysis found that a cost-benefit ration of £3.35
was gained by the Government for every £1 invested. This
included reduced benefit payments, increase tax revenue and reduced
costs to the NHS.
From Society's perspective a cost-benefit ratio of
£3.43 was gained for every £1 spent. This incorporates
savings through increased employment and productivity while in
employment.
The analysis also found improvements in the mental
health of Rightsteps patients during the course of the treatment.
On average, depression scores improved by 11.6%, anxiety scores
by 11.4%, phobia scores by 8%.
4.2 It is clear that Rightsteps as a model can be
applied to address common mental health conditions. We believe
that the flexibility of the model can be used to identify and
navigate around the complex needs of those who are unemployed
or at risk of becoming unemployed.
5.0 Conclusion
5.1 In response to this consultation, Turning Point
would again emphasise the need for support to address the high-levels
of people dependent on benefits. Nevertheless, it is important
that sanctions are not the only method used. This will have unintended
consequences by ensuring that people further disengage from any
avenues of support while also strengthening the grip of poverty
on workless households. The effects of this would be felt for
years to come. What is needed is an approach which identifies
and addresses the contributory factors to long-term unemployment
while also seeking to prevent people from exiting employment through
long-term absence. The Work Programme will be crucial in building
a foundation of support for the unemployed and must also provide
easily accessible and personalised support which understands that
each long-term unemployed person will have their own challenges
which obstructs employment.
December 2010
181 Centre for Mental Health, 2010 and Department of
Health and Department of Work and Pensions, Working our way
to better mental health: a framework for action, 2009. Back
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