News

DWP is currently holding engagement events regarding their new dynamic procurement system (DPS) for the replacement Flexible Support Fund (FSF2). They have published slides from the event and these are attached below. It is expected that the new system will go live from November and all suppliers will need to gain fresh accreditation on the system if they wish to quote for work. Suppliers can register on the new DPS system from 20 September.

DFN Project SEARCH is running a series of workshops where they will present and discuss the data they collect around their Supported Internships. They use this data to to help them understand what's working well and what isn't. They've analysed this information for their 2020-2021 cohort and will share it at the workshops. Topics covered will include overall employment outcomes, average salaries and hours and Intern demographics and more.

The events can be booked through Eventbrite.

DWP has issued an invitation to tender for an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Accreditation Pilot. The Invitation to Tender (ITT 21630) is available to view on the Bravo Solution website and closes on 20 September.

BASE is one of 80 signatories to a letter to the Prime Minister calling on him to drive forward a coordinated cross-departmental approach to tackling short-term and long-term youth unemployment to ensure that there will be no ‘lost generation'.

The 80 organisations have come together through the Youth Employment Group to warn that despite government efforts for youngsters to get the help that they need to get into work through investment in employment support, education, training and jobs, the challenge for young people is far from over.

Hampshire County Council is to re-tender its Supported Employment Services. The Service will be a continuation of over 20 years investment by the Council in Supported Employment, with the current contract that was awarded in 2015 expiring in January 2022. In order to tender for this, you will need to be registered with the Hampshire Procurement Framework Hampshire Accommodation and Support Options Model (HADSOM).

The Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) issued revised funding rules for apprenticeship providers last month. These include substantial amendments to the section about apprentices who need access to learning support. 

Learning support funding is available to meet the costs of putting in place reasonable adjustments, as set out in section 20 of the Equality Act 2010, for apprentices who have a learning difficulty or disability as defined in Section 15ZA(6) of the Education Act 1996 (as amended by section 41 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009):

(a) the person has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of persons of the same age, or

(b) the person has a disability which either prevents or hinders the person from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided by institutions providing education or training for persons who are over compulsory school age.

We have received the following message from DWP about the new Flexible Support Fund dynamic purchasing system (FSF DPS 2). This new system will replace the current DPS when it expires on 31 October 2021.

The online engagement events take place on August 26, September 1, 6, 9 and 14 and places can be booked through Eventbrite.

Liverpool City Council (LCC) is looking to commission an experienced supported employment provider (SEP) to deliver job coaching and oversight at two DFN Project SEARCH sites at Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust and Liverpool City Council.

LCC is also looking to develop a follow-on job coaching offer to support young people who have gained employment previously through a supported internship, if they need support due to a change at work, to apply for a new job or a promotion.

Ambitious about Autism has launched a survey to gather more evidence and data about young people’s experiences of looking for work and employment – in areas such as job applications, interviews and careers advice. 

BASE is organising elections for our regional member networks and for representation on the National Executive Committee. Members will receive information and nomination forms from their current regional lead and it's also available on our website.

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