Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Culture, Strategy and Communities. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Placemaking & Local Economy

The Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Local Economy introduced the report. It was explained that, for those who were not in employment but wanted to work, accessing the labour market and securing good work was a challenge for a number of reasons, not least the systemic barriers in place to finding and keeping sustainable, well-paid employment. It was explained that Haringey Council pledged to support people into good jobs where they were paid a regular fair wage and had opportunities to progress. People with illnesses – physical and mental – and those living with disabilities faced additional barriers to finding employment and could benefit from tailored support.

It was explained that the Council had accepted the £3.8 million Connect to Work grant to fund the work of Haringey Works over the following five years to support almost 1,000 people into good jobs. This was a voluntary scheme for people who wanted tailored support from the Council. Haringey Works had a proven track record, using a person-centred holistic approach to ensure wider barriers to employment were addressed. In 2024/25, 450 of the residents they supported moved into employment within the year across a variety of sectors.

It was noted that the Council had built on its approach by integrating employment, health, and community services to provide individual support to people with disabilities, health conditions, and complex barriers to finding sustainable employment. It not only addressed individual barriers but also systemic ones in various employment sectors, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences into our labour market.

It was explained that Haringey had the sixth highest unemployment rate in London; this figure represented people without jobs who were actively seeking work and that there was a role for the Council to play in supporting this group. It was stressed that good employment brought economic, social, and psychological benefits to people and that it was a key part of the Council’s commitment to make Haringey a place where people could thrive.

In response to comments and questions from Cllr Emery, the following information was shared:

• It was explained that Haringey had chosen a model of a 50/50 split between commissioned services and in house services and that this would allow the Council to most effectively undertake the requirements of the service and to also develop its in house offer.
  
  
• It was noted that the Council had worked with around 450 people, and that these were a wide a range of residents, focussing on the areas of highest unemployment in the borough. It was stressed that, while the service targeted key areas, it would work to support all of those currently seeking work within the borough.
  
  
• It was explained that the service provided bespoke support to those who were struggling most to get into work, particularly those with complex needs.
  
  

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1. Approved acceptance of a grant from Central London Forward of £3,834,041 for the delivery of 50% of the Connect to Work programme in Haringey between April 2025 and March 2030. This would create a targeted Employment Support programme providing resources and capacity for Haringey Works to deliver voluntary employment support for Haringey residents who were economically inactive and experiencing health conditions or disabilities or faced complex barriers impacting their ability to work. This was in accordance with Contract Standing Order 21.01, where the Council had received a grant from an external body, and the process for approving or varying the agreement for the grant was the same as that set out in CSO 2 (i.e. the Director could approve receipt of a grant valued at less than £500,000. For approval of receipt of grants valued at £500,000 or more, a Cabinet decision was required).
   
   
2. Approved the hybrid model of delivery, with Haringey Works delivering 50% of the programme and working in partnership with a commissioned provider who delivered the remaining 50% of the programme. Commissioning of the external provider was managed by CLF.
   
   

Reasons for Decision

Although the number of unemployed residents had significantly decreased since the pandemic, Haringey continued to experience relatively high levels of unemployment. As of March 2025, around 6% of the population were claiming out-of-work benefits compared to a London average of 5.1%.

In line with national and London trends, there was also a growing number of residents who were inactive in the Labour Market, particularly for reasons of ill health, including mental health. Around 24% of the population was inactive in the Labour Market, compared to a London average of 20%. However, these figures needed to be treated with caution, as this number included those who were inactive for reasons such as caring responsibilities, studying, or retirement. While some within that figure were not actively seeking work, others were keen to secure employment but needed additional support to achieve that goal.

Haringey Works had an established track record of supporting residents into employment, using a person-centred holistic approach to ensure wider barriers were addressed. The service was a key member of Haringey’s Employment and Health providers network, which convened and integrated employment support work for those with health barriers across all providers in the borough. In addition, the team was part of the new work and health place-based governance arrangements set up by the Integrated Care Board to join up the health and employment landscape locally.

During 2024–25, the service supported over 1,000 residents, with 450 of those moving into sustainable employment, and the focus for this programme was support into sustainable jobs. Haringey Works delivered an IPS (Individual Placement and Support) programme to support people with substance misuse issues. The programme, funded by the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, was second in the country for job start achievements. Haringey Works offered a trusted brand, provided specialist support, and was ideally placed to build on this experience and expand its offer of employment support through the IPS model.

Approving the funding and implementation of the Connect to Work programme:

- Provided access to funding over a 5-year period, enabling Haringey Works to continue supporting residents into employment following the end of UKSPF funding in March 2026. Haringey Works was ideally placed to deliver the Connect to Work programme, with a good understanding of residents' needs and established partnerships across community and health organisations.
- Contributed to the integration of employment and health services to provide holistic support to residents experiencing health conditions or disabilities impacting their ability to work.
- Ensured a structured and sustainable employment support model was available through Haringey Works over the next five years.
- Maintained Haringey’s position as a leading provider of employment support using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.

Alternative Options Considered

Not Accepting the Grant: This option was rejected as it would have resulted in a significant reduction in employment support provision through Haringey Works for Haringey residents.

Delivering the Programme Solely Through External Commissioning: This was deemed unsuitable, as it would not have leveraged the expertise and infrastructure of Haringey Works, which had an established track record in delivering employment support services.