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Written Question
Jobcentres: Staff
Monday 29th April 2024

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average number of Work Coaches was per Jobcentre in the latest period for which data is available; and what the average caseload was of a Work Coach in the same period.

Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Average number of Work Coaches per Jobcentre

Jobcentres across the DWP estate vary significantly in size and capacity, the average number of Work Coaches per Jobcentre does not reflect this variation and is not a metric used by the Department.

At the end of March 24, the number of full time equivalent (FTE) UC, JSA and ESA Work Coaches across Great Britain was 16,480 and the number of Jobcentres was 634, giving an average number of Work Coaches per Jobcentre of approximately 26.

Notes on the figures:

  • Data is correct as at the end of March 24.
  • Figures were derived from the Department’s Activity Based Model (ABM), which provides Full Time Equivalent (FTE) figures based on point in time estimate by Line Managers. They cover only FTE of staff with paid employment.
  • Work Coach figures include both Universal Credit Work Coaches and Existing Benefit Work Coaches. They do not include Work Coach Team Leaders and Disability Employment Advisers.
  • The number of colleagues employed in these directorates is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. As the Department holds the information, we have released it.

Average caseload of a Work Coach

The table below shows the average number of Universal Credit customers in the Intensive Work Search regime per Universal Credit work coach FTE across Great Britain in March 24.

March 24

People on UC (Intensive Work Search only)

1,495,380

Number of UC work coaches (FTE)

15,290

Intensive Work Search customers per UC work coach (FTE)

100

Data sources: Work coach FTE - DWP’s internal Activity Based Model, People on UC - Stat-Xplore (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk)

Please note, the Department does not use caseload per Work Coach to estimate the number of Work Coaches required nationally or locally. Not all UC claimants have a Work Coach, but we have provided the number of Intensive Work Search customers per UC Work Coach as most of this group do. The Department has complex models to estimate the resource required in Jobcentres at a national level. These models cover activities across all DWP customer groups and job roles.

The Department continually impacts and assesses the service being offered to customers. Staff numbers, including the number of Work Coaches, and demand for Jobcentre services are reviewed on an ongoing basis, in line with the latest economic and benefit forecasts.

Notes on the figures:

All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 and cover Great Britain

People on UC

  • The number of Universal Credit claimants includes those who have started Universal Credit (completed the Universal Credit claim process and accepted their Claimant Commitment) and have not had a closure of their claim recorded for this spell, up to the 'count date' (second Thursday in each month).
  • A closure of their claim would be recorded either at the request of the individual or if their entitlement to Universal Credit ends, for example, if they no longer satisfy the financial conditions to receive Universal Credit as they have capital over £16,000.
  • Labour market regime is based on an individual's circumstances on the count date. More information on the Labour Market Regime can be found using the following link:

Labour Market Regimes

FTE

  • Data is correct as at the end of March 24.
  • Figures were derived from the Department’s Activity Based Model (ABM), which provides Full Time Equivalent (FTE) figures based on point in time estimate by Line Managers. They cover only FTE of staff with paid employment.
  • Work Coach figures include only Universal Credit Work Coaches. The figures do not include Work Coach Team Leaders and Disability Employment Advisers.
  • The number of colleagues employed in these directorates is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. As the Department holds the information, we have released it.
  • UC work coach FTE includes the following ABM categories - (DWP) Reasonable Adjustment (W&H Pilot), (UCJC) 50PLUS Work Coach, (UCJC) IWP Work Coach, (UCJC) Learning Premium, (UCJC) UC 18-24 Work Coach, (UCJC) New Style ESA Work Coach, (UCJC) New Style JSA Work Coach, (UCJC) UC Enhanced Work Coach – SE, (UCJC) UC Start Up Training, (UCJC) UC Work Coach Accreditation, (UCJC) UC Work Coach Group Sessions, (UCJC) UC Work Coach, (UCJC) Work Capability Assessment Referrals, (UCJC) Youth Employability Coach, and (UCJC) Youth Hub Work Coach.

Departmental Publication (News and Communications)
Department for Work and Pensions

Apr. 28 2024

Source Page: Government Work Scheme delivers almost 100,000 placements highlighting Britain's new approach to Welfare
Document: Government Work Scheme delivers almost 100,000 placements highlighting Britain's new approach to Welfare (webpage)

Found: Government Work Scheme delivers almost 100,000 placements highlighting Britain's new approach to Welfare

Select Committee
Correspondence dated 26 April 2024 from the Chair to Peter Schofield CB Permanent Secretary Department for Work and Pensions relating to the inquiry Progress in implementing Universal Credit

Correspondence Apr. 26 2024

Committee: Public Accounts Committee

Found: Correspondence dated 26 April 2024 from the Chair to Peter Schofield CB Permanent Secretary Department

Select Committee
Leonard Cheshire
 DYE0055 - Disability employment

Written Evidence Apr. 26 2024

Inquiry: Disability employment
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: Work and Pensions Committee (Department: Department for Work and Pensions)

Found: Work and Pensions Committee Disability Employment G ap Inquiry: Leonard Cheshire’s response Introduction

Select Committee
Parkinson's UK
 DYE0050 - Disability employment

Written Evidence Apr. 26 2024

Inquiry: Disability employment
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: Work and Pensions Committee (Department: Department for Work and Pensions)

Found: Journal of Business and Psychology. 2020. 16 Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Select Committee
Department for Work and Pensions
 DYE0042 - Disability employment

Written Evidence Apr. 26 2024

Inquiry: Disability employment
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: Work and Pensions Committee (Department: Department for Work and Pensions)

Found: DYE0042 - Disability employment Department for Work and Pensions Written Evidence

Select Committee
Employment Related Services Association
 DYE0040 - Disability employment

Written Evidence Apr. 26 2024

Inquiry: Disability employment
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: Work and Pensions Committee (Department: Department for Work and Pensions)

Found: of Work and Pensions to local authorities and then to providers in a timely manner which means the

Select Committee
MS Society
 DYE0020 - Disability employment

Written Evidence Apr. 26 2024

Inquiry: Disability employment
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: Work and Pensions Committee (Department: Department for Work and Pensions)

Found: People with MS can apply to the Access to Work scheme, run by the Department for Work and Pensions

Select Committee
National Film and Television School
 DYE0021 - Disability employment

Written Evidence Apr. 26 2024

Inquiry: Disability employment
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: Work and Pensions Committee (Department: Department for Work and Pensions)

Found: DYE0021 - Disability employment National Film and Television School Written Evidence

Select Committee
Deaf and Disabled Members Committee and Social Security and Tax Advice Team, Equity Trade Union
 DYE0028 - Disability employment

Written Evidence Apr. 26 2024

Inquiry: Disability employment
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: Work and Pensions Committee (Department: Department for Work and Pensions)

Found: DYE0028 - Disability employment Deaf and Disabled Members Committee and Social Security and Tax Advice