| Synopsis: |
"Ready for Work: Full Employment in Our Generation (Cm. 7290)" sets out the Government's strategy for moving people from being passive recipients of benefits to becoming active in seeking and preparing for work. It builds on the reform principles set out in the green paper "In Work, Better Off: Next Steps to Full Employment (Cm. 7130)" (ISBN 0101713029). It also relates to the policies set out in the skills document "Opportunity, Employment and Progression: Making Skills Work (Cm. 7288)" (ISBN 0101728824) and to the proposals to implement the Leitch Review set out in "World Class Skills: Implementing the Leitch Review of Skills in England (Cm. 7181)" (ISBN 0101718128), all of which are available below.This publication deals in particular with creating a stronger framework of rights and responsibilities, and supporting people to find work through a personalised and responsive approach. The Government remains committed to a welfare policy aimed at tackling poverty through full employment.The policies include: making work pay, to ensure long-term claimants see a significant rise in their incomes when they take a job; lone parents with older children will have to seek work and availability of affordable childcare will be a key part of the assessment by Jobcentre Plus staff; modernisation of the New Deal arrangements; Jobcentre Plus will lead the job search for the first 12 months; support for disabled people and people with health conditions will be revised, with Employment and Support Allowance replacing Incapacity Benefit, and Pathways to Work and a Work Capability Assessment being available; Jobcentre Plus will be at the heart of the system and will work in partnership with public, private, and third sector specialist providers, employers, and local communities; and, integrated employment and skills provision with basic skills screening and more support for training. |