Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide up to date training for Job Centre staff on the skills that employers are currently seeking.

The department is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants.

Our Work Coaches undergo a comprehensive learning journey designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality service. Learning provision supports jobcentre staff in coaching claimants to develop their abilities, knowledge and confidence, to promote themselves when applying for vacancies.

Learning provided enables Jobcentre staff to demonstrate the key role of social media and digital vacancy filling. They learn about the latest digital job search methods which employers use to advertise vacancies, for example; Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. This enables work coaches to confidently demonstrate all use of social media to claimants and promote internet job search sites. Jobcentre staff are provided with the skills to coach on creating Curriculum Vitae, uploading and sharing these to increase claimants’ on-line presence.

Learning provides Jobcentre staff with the knowledge to explore their districts’ labour Market, providing claimants and employers with more choice and expertise when filling vacancies.

Jobcentre staff are taught how to use the District Provision Tool, as the main vehicle to source provision and support claimants, enabling them to obtain and retain a job and progress within their employment.

The District Provision Tool is a directory of the provision and support delivered by Jobcentre Plus, Skills Funding Agency (SFA), Skills Development Scotland, Careers Wales other providers, local authorities, independent, volunteer and charity organisations.

It hosts all the available provision and support in a district and nationally. The tool aids customer facing staff to explore the full flexible menu of support and maximise provision in developing claimant’s skills to enable them to obtain and retain a job and progress within their employment.