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Written question asked by Lord Field of Birkenhead (Labour) on Friday, 6 October 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 10 October 2017. It was answered by Damian Hinds (Conservative) on Monday, 16 October 2017 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Jobcentres: Interviews

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's policy is on the setting of time limits for jobseekers' interviews with their work coaches.

Answer

Work Coaches working with their local managers are best placed to identify the support and guidance that is appropriate to each claimant to help them move in to work as quickly as possible.

The length of the appointment and the number of times that a Work Coach sees a claimant is dependent upon which conditionality group they are placed in. As an example those claimants undertaking Intensive Work Search are required to attend mandatory face to face weekly interventions for the first 13 weeks of their claim

Work Coaches have the flexibility to apply easements for attendance, for example:

  • temporary absence to receive medical treatment,
  • bereavement of partner or child,
  • domestic Violence,
  • child in distress,
  • drug/alcohol dependent,
  • carrying out public duty,
  • periods of sickness,
  • claimant in prison,
  • witness protection

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
105448
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Jobcentres Interviews Unemployed people
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk