Oral Answers to Questions

John Penrose Excerpts

Monday 7th February 2022 Commons Chamber

[John Penrose (Weston-super-Mare) (Con)]

11. What steps she is taking to (a) measure, (b) improve and (c) publish the performance of work coaches in jobcentres.

[The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Dr Thérèse Coffey)]

We often hear in this House about honourable colleagues going into their jobcentres and seeing the marvellous work of work coaches, and we see that by the number of people getting back into work. However, we want to constantly improve the performance of our work coaches in terms of outcomes for people and we will continue to do that.

[John Penrose]

I completely agree that good work coaches can level up opportunities by breaking glass ceilings that hold people back, but inevitably some will be better than others, as we have seen in schools and other public services. If we publish those findings, every jobseeker and their MP will want to know how their local service compares and how it might be improved, so will my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss this as outlined in my recently published work, “Poverty Trapped”?

[Dr Coffey]

I do not agree with my hon. Friend’s suggestion about the external assessment. I have asked one of my team to look into his report and I am sure we can arrange a suitable meeting, but I want to assure him that all new work coaches are undertaking a level 4 City & Guilds qualification in service delivery.