To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the support available for partners of the Steps 2 Success and Steps to Work Programmes to enable them to offer employment to people who complete a placement.

The Steps 2 Success programme is designed to assist unemployed participants find and sustain work. Each of the three Lead Contractors that deliver the programme has designed a wide range of provision to help participants find work. The Contractors have all worked with their supply chain partners to put in place the same service to that available from the Lead Contractor. The service delivered to all participants must at least meet standards set by the Department in a Service Guarantee. All delivery organisations will agree a Progression to Employment Plan that will outline the activities that each will complete to address the participant’s assessed barriers to employment. The Progression to Employment Plan will be updated regularly to take account of the participant’s improvement in job readiness. The Lead Contractors and partners will also work with a wide range of employers to identify jobs and match participants to these. All activities undertaken by participants are based on helping the participant finding their job goal.

In delivering the service there are a range of supports offered by each of the Lead Contractors to their supply chain partners, these include: dedicated supply chain management team; staff training; computer hardware and dedicated software package; performance management regime including assisting with underperformance; provision of detailed and timely Management Information; clearly defined performance targets; compliance and audit support; quality management regime; and Human Resources support.

Those participants who complete their attachment period on Steps 2 Success without having found employment are referred back to an Employment Service Adviser. They will build on the improvement in employability that have occurred during their Steps 2 Success attachment.

The Steps to Work Programme was closed to new entrants in May 2014.