BCC Employment Team Service Redesign

Overview

Birmingham City Council’s Employment Team is being re-designed and we would like to hear your views on our proposals for future working. 

The redesign aims to: strengthen and focus streamlined and reduced resources and direct those towards employment and skills priorities and activity that will improve the employment rates of young people, people with disabilities and other groups who face barriers in accessing the world of work.  We also want to  prepare the service for incorporation into the emerging Joint Economic Unit which will deliver greater efficiencies and value for money in the delivery of economic growth in Birmingham and the region.

1. We propose to work more closely with our partners and organisations across public, private and third sector organisations, to join up resources and work together to help meet the Council’s local economic development priorities.
    
2. We propose to move away from the direct delivery of services, and in particular delivery of the Work Choice contract (delivered on behalf of Advance Housing).  Numbers of people helped into employment through this contract are too low and below expected performance levels; while the resource required to deliver the contract is high. But supporting people from vulnerable groups into positive destinations and routes into sustainable employment remains a high priority for the Council. We are therefore, committed to channelling our collective effort and resources to implement a strategic and scaled up approach that will reach and impact more residents as a means of delivering against this important priority.  We will embed support to vulnerable groups (including those with disabilities) across all aspects of our work and collaborate closely with partners. 
    
3. ​We are proposing to restructure the Employment Team into a redesigned Employment and Skills Services Team, structured around the following functional areas:
   
   Strategic Partnerships, Policy and Funding – working with partners at a strategic level to develop, influence and implement employment and skills policies; and influence and secure funding,  ensuring the needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, including young people, looked after children and people with disabilities, are addressed
   
   Local Delivery and Commissioning – responsible for commissioning and implementing policies and funded programmes that are locally targeted and address the needs of young people, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, including looked after children and people with disabilities within Birmingham. 
   
   Major Projects – working with neighbouring authorities, partners, to promote and maximise skills development and employment opportunities from major developments, infrastructure and regeneration projects alongside other (sector-focused) initiatives
   
   Employer Engagement – working with businesses through the Birmingham Charter for Social Responsibility, public sector procurement, inward and indigenous investment activities to elevate skills levels and bring forward new employment opportunities from economic development and business support activity.  Promote and embed Disability Confident and, joint  working with partners to facilitate bespoke, pre-recruitment skills programmes, work experience and job matching services 

You can tell us what you think by completing the online survey, or e-mailing us at

BCCEmploymentServiceRedesign@birmingham.gov.uk

If you would like a copy of the draft rationale paper please e-mail the above address