Jobcentre Plus and Children's Centres

A report funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families found that in too many centres not even basic joint activity was taking place.

Just under half of centres did not stock Jobcentre Plus leaflets and only a fifth had job vacancy boards, which the report highlighted as particularly useful for parents. The report calls for a minimum level of Jobcentre Plus involvement with centres, including making sure leaflets and posters are available and up-to-date and installing vacancy boards. For areas of high social deprivation, with large numbers of out-of-work parents, more measures are required.

The report looks at good practice already taking place and recommends installing internet points and phone access for parents. It also calls for greater use of outreach work - although it accepts that this work can be costly, so suggests it should be concentrated on larger centres with an already established outreach service. Cost was also a factor in failing to place Jobcentre Plus staff in centres, so the report recommends giving advisers a number of centres to visit at regular times. It also said Jobcentre Plus should consider sponsoring events at centres, such as careers fairs and confidence-building courses.