Fuse Jobs releases it's findings on tackling worklessness for people living in Social Housing

Aug. 1, 2008 - PRLog -- Fuse Jobs (www.FuseJobs.co.uk) recently hosted an interactive discussion at the House of St Barnabas in London where representatives of over 60 housing associations discussed the key issues relating to securing employment for their residents.  

Attendees also included employers, training providers, job brokers and local government officers.

After inspiring presentations from John Bryson of Notting Hill Housing, Evelyn Rimmer from Places for People and Stephen Burns from the Peabody trust, the attendees discussed in depth what can be done now to increase the number of residents within social housing gaining employment.

The aim of the day was to look for solutions that do not require significant changes in government funding or agendas and were thus within the control of those who attended the event.  As a result the outcomes are practical, immediately applicable and deliverable.

A full report on the findings and recommendations from this event will be published later this year.  What is already apparent from the day is that there are four key areas that can be immediately addressed:

The Benefits Trap
RSLs need to do more to help their residents navigate the minefield of into-work benefits, and promote the non-financial 'lifestyle' benefits of moving back into work.
Suggestions include RSLs working together with other providers to create reliable centralised information and marketing, and using the power of the sector to put pressure on Jobcentre Plus to be more flexible and responsive to the needs of the sector's residents.

Employer Needs must come first
RSLs and advisors must understand what employers need, today and ensure their residents can meet these needs.  Skills not qualifications!
By creating wider partnerships, employers can access a wider pool of potential labour, and so the matching of skills to skill-requirements becomes much more likely to bear fruit.

Make more use of supply chains
Much more can and should be done by RSLs and councils to put pressure on their partners and suppliers to create opportunities for their residents.
This will be much more effective if the pressure is brought to bear by wider partnerships rather than individual housing associations.

Practice what we preach
Housing Associations feel they could do more to recruit from their own residents, creating opportunities and leading by example.  However, there are many issues around being employer and landlord, confidentiality etc. that make this difficult.

By working together to recruit from each other's residents, these issues cease to be a barrier.



Fuse Jobs' response and suggested solutions

Fuse Jobs is pleased to announce that it will be developing new features to help address the findings from the day:

A centralised resource bank of information on benefits and lifestyle changes, including highlighting the progression potential from entry-level positions.

Skills matching technology to facilitate employers recruiting from the wide pool of residents across the housing sector.

Protected vacancies' where RSLs can advertise their own vacancies out exclusively to residents and advisors within the housing sector

A series of further events focusing on some of the specific issues arising from this session as well as investigating further the role employers themselves can play.




To receive the full report when it is published and for invites to follow-up events, please sign up for our Partner Newsletter at www.FuseJobs.co.uk

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www.FuseJobs.co.uk is London’s only entry level job site aimed at helping the city’s young, unemployed and inexperienced new-starters break out into the world of work.