Somerset ESB Increasing Employment, Raising Skills Increasing Employment Network MINUTES ~ Tuesday 1st April 2014
Jobcentreplus, Brendon House. 36 High Street, Taunton.
1. Welcome and Introductions.
Ali Porter (Chair) welcomed everyone to the meeting. Attendees introduced themselves and their role in turn. A list is provided at the end of these minutes.
2. Minutes of the Last Meeting.
The minutes of the IEN meeting held on 05 Nov 13 were approved as accurate. Matters arising/outstanding Action Points are complete.
3: Update from the LEP / Somerset Employment and Skills Board (ESB) – Mel Roberts on behalf of Mark Johnson, Somerset CC.
Strategic Update - April 2014.ppt
Mel presented the PowerPoint, embedded above, about the Strategic Infrastructure Plans, setting each slide in context. Slide two. The Growth Fund is for Infrastructure and will be made available in 15/16. The City Deal is the Plymouth & Peninsular CD led by Plymouth City Council. Somerset needs to ensure it feeds into our County. The £35m is still being negotiated, and ESB / IEN can still have influence over this element. Slide three. This is to illustrate timescales. Slide four shows the three themes, each being led by a different LA. Slide four is an extract from the EU Structural Infrastructure Fund presentation.
Funding will go to the LEP based on the SEP.
4: LMI Review & Contract Review. There have been no significant changes. Ali is researching the current position with PETROC and will share her findings with the IEN. Concern was raised around the needs of individuals in Care.
AP: Wendy will share her concerns with Phill Adams
5: Changes in the IEN’s Terms of Reference.
ESB IE Network Summary.doc
Attached is the proposed summary. Phill set the proposals in context: The ESB subgroup EDGAR was created as a reaction to the recession and the emanating redundancies. It became a MI collection group, but is not functioning effectively in this purpose. It is proposed that the IEN will be a better forum to share & collect MI as it has the commissioning groups attending who can react accordingly. The ToR will therefore be adjusted to encapsulate this expanded function. The IEN having both strands will have more influence with, and will empower the ESB. The ToR will now include EDOs providing information on agreed developments so the supply of training & provision can be aligned. The Network will have a key role to play in the development and operation of the pipeline of opportunities linked to Hinkley Point and its impact on the base economy.
The amended ToR was comprehensively discussed by all participants and the amended ToR was unanimously agreed.
6 Somerset Drug & Alcohol Partnership
Robin Ali & Andy Symons presented information to the Group on the new SDAS service offer in Somerset. A copy of the presentation can be obtained via Kevin Limrick (It has not been embedded due to its size). A brief summary:
They will provide outreach to engage with hard to reach / disengaged users. They have 4 main hubs, plus ‘satellites’ in Minehead & Glastonbury. They have a broad service remit including helping customers beyond opiate & alcohol dependency ~ legal highs, steroid use etc. There is a ‘Health & Wellbeing’ bus operating a structured route to cover rural areas. They will address esteem and loneliness issues and build on progress to encourage progression. There is a ‘Get Connected’ element built into the programme to encourage progression into training or employment.
A. Points: The DWP Prison Adviser to make connections with the SDAS. SDAS to send ETE lead details to Kevin.
What’s New? Partner updates
Laura is delivering CV workshops on Wednesday 30th April 2014 at Sedgemoor District Council's main office in King Square, Bridgwater. (Session one from 9:30am to 12:30pm; and session two from 1:30pm to 4:30pm). Laura is also working on web access within Sedgemoor’s Childrens Centres. Paul outlined the NCS delivery contract changes from October. Prospects will replace Careers SW as contract holder. For CSW it will be business as usual until then with no change in the quality of service. Wendy is working on delivery of two specialist Work Clubs in partnership with CSW. Gordon gave an overview of recent Minehead delivery, including Journey to Employment, Phoenix and Boat Building etc. WSDC are focussing on joining up services in Williton & Watchet, with initial surveying about to start. Jenny talked about the recent Steel Fixing apprenticeships. Mel informed the group that there will be a UCAS style website for NEETs following an announcement by the Deputy PM. LAs will host these sites. Penny covered the Financial Inclusion report currently being compiled. This report will be shared with the Network and is likely to form part of the next IEN agenda. Jackie outlined changes to the Probation Service, the separation of elements of the service and the tendering exercise. This process is ongoing and a discussion will form part of the June IEN agenda. Reform of the rehabilitation of Offenders Act has resulting in changes to disclosure lengths ~ see below. Restore Trust leaflets were shared with the group. Restore can provide training in CSCS (including the card), Customer / Retail Service & Catering.
ROA.PDF
Dates of future IEN meetings. 10 June 2014 9 Sept 2014 11 Nov 2014 Attendees Ali Porter DWP Tracey Lock DWP Gordon Dwyer WSDC Phill Adams Sedgemoor DC Kevin Limrick DWP Wendy Jenner Somerset County Council Amanda Payne Somerset Drug & Alcohol Team Debra Scarratt Careers South West Mel Roberts Somerset County Council Jennifer Sandy EDF Energy Employment Brokerage Laura Fowler Sedgemoor DC Jackie West A&S Probation Paul Gillard National Careers Service Robin Ali & Andy SDAS Guest Speakers Symons
Unable to attend Angela Farmer Emily Wishart Amanda Williams Deb Scarratt Penny Guppy