Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training is offered to Jobcentre Plus staff to enable them to better work with (a) lone parents and (b) ethnic minority jobseekers.

The training delivered to Jobcentre staff ensures they have the capability to support a range of customers/claimants, it teaches them to respect the individual needs of Jobseekers whether these are lone parents or from an ethnic minority background. This approach ensures that staff are equipped to deal with a diverse set of circumstances whilst treating all Jobseekers as individuals.

All staff receive ‘foundation learning’ which covers excellent customer service, diversity and claimants’ needs and stresses the importance of looking for signs where additional support may be required.

Jobcentre Work Coaches have access to an on-going, comprehensive learning programme that focuses on raising awareness of the Jobseekers personal circumstances. This learning recognises that irrespective of whether the Jobseeker is a lone parent or from an ethnic minority (or both) it can affect them in different ways. To complement this approach other more specific products are available to staff, for example, Helping Parents into Work and Skills Screening - the process by which potential skills needs in relation to claimants’ job goals, or available jobs in the local labour market, are identified.

Both are useful when supporting lone parents and ethnic minority Jobseekers.

Overall the learning offered places a greater emphasis on the need for personalisation and flexibility which enables the Work Coaches to build strong relationships with all Jobseekers and Jobcentre staff will complete this learning programme.