NCVO comments on the National Audit Office's report.

Our comments on the National Audit Office's report on the Work Programme.

NCVO today responded to the National Audit Office’s (NAO) report on the introduction of the Work Programme.

Sir Stuart Etherington, NCVO Chief Executive, said:

"This report rightly identifies that many elements of the Work Programme have addressed the shortcomings of previous schemes, particularly in terms of offering more innovative financing arrangements and greater freedom and flexibility for providers. However, there is a need to ensure that these financing arrangements are fair and proportionate so that subcontractors have sufficient funds to carry out the work.

"Whilst the progress is welcome, there is still plenty of room for improvement, and we are glad that the NAO shares many of the concerns which we have raised before, around over-optimistic performance expectations and delays in sub-contractors receiving referrals.

"There are lessons to be learnt to ensure that this and future programmes are up to the job and delivering fully and fairly both for clients and providers. The recommendations for monitoring performance assumptions both for this and future initiatives are particularly timely given the disappointing value and number of contracts which have gone to voluntary sector subcontractors.

"The report’s recommendations, if implemented by Government, should go some way towards ironing out current issues in the Work Programme and help to raise the bar for future schemes. NCVO would also recommend that the Department for Work and Pensions explores scope for better data sharing between Jobcentre Plus and providers, and gives more customers the chance to choose their own provider; these points were raised at our special interest group meeting with Chris Grayling last week."

The NCVO special interest group for Work Programme sub-contractors (click here) represents voluntary and community organisations involved in the Government’s new welfare-to-work initiative. The group enables sub-contractors to share their experiences, provides information and advice, and enables NCVO to feed their concerns to Government. The group is open to all voluntary organisations who act as sub-contractors in the Work Programme, and there are currently 130 organisations in its membership.

Click here to read the full NAO report on the introduction of the Work Programme.