Employer Supports DSP Income support for people has always been - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Department of Social Protection Employer Supports

DSP • Income support for people has always been the core business of DSP • Now a more integrated responsibility including helping people avail of appropriate training to make them job ready. The Intreo model ensures access to all relevant services under the one roof. From day one we work with jobseekers to help them back into the workforce. • Employer engagement is critical to ensure our clients are given access to job opportunities and that we can reskill people where necessary to meet the requirements of local employers. • This means a more integrated response is needed working with other organisations, training providers and businesses such as yourselves to ensure the best outcomes for clients

What we have to offer employers • Free advertising service for vacancies • Access to talent pool of live register clients (effectively biggest recruitment agency in the country) • Pro active skills matching service • Collaboration on joint initiatives to upskill people • Financial supports • Helping to address future need and skills gaps

Employment Schemes • JobsPlus – Financial assistance (up to € 10,000 per new employee) • JobBridge – National Internship programme (no financial cost to employer, excellent outcomes for clients) • First Steps – similar to JobBridge but aimed at disadvantaged youth. • Other schemes including WSS, Back To Education, Back To Work

Employer Team NE • One of the first dedicated Employer teams. • Inform and advise employers of the services and supports available • Encourage them to work directly with us to fill vacancies from the Live register and to support the recruitment process.

Filling vacancies our approach • Job specification from employer • Meet to identify suitable supports and schemes • Identify suitable clients to meet these requirements • Contact clients by phone to pre screen for experience, qualifications etc… • Request Cvs from those that meet employer requirements • Forward to employer for consideration • Can help address any issues i.e. out of date construction tickets where a job would be offered • Advise on registering for schemes for employer and client • If there is a shortage of required skills we will work with companies and local training organisations to address these gaps

Results to date • This hand on approach in the NE is paying dividends now. The increased awareness of financial and recruitment supports has resulted in take up of schemes above the national average. • Significant JobsPlus take up in North East Division (Monaghan, Cavan & Louth) • Highest number of companies signed up to a Charter committing to work with us to provide opportunities for unemployed people, currently some 80+ companies of all sizes signed up.

A Local Example – Exitex Dundalk • Set up a meeting with Exitex Ltd, a Dundalk company for an information briefing back in August 2014. • Company were actively recruiting but not finding suitable people through their newspaper advertisements. • Asked the employer team to submit suitable CVs from long term unemployed who would qualify for grant. • Very happy with the quality of candidates, and turn around time for CVs. • Employed two people initially and this has risen to 12 over the past year. • Win, Win – 12 people now in full time employment with company, company receiving financial assistance, savings for the exchequer and positive impact on peoples lives and their communities

Collaboration • Vesta Corporation Approached Employer team in April regarding up to 20 upcoming vacancies We contacted people on live register with relevant skills and carried out an intensive screening and interviews to identify the right candidates. Joint programme with LMETB to provide specific additional training geared at Vesta requirements. 4 weeks classroom training followed by 2 weeks work placement in Vesta. Classroom training and work placement in Vesta completed early September. Fantastic outcome with 19 participants offered full time employment. (100% progression)

Collaboration • Diageo Joint initiative DSP/Diageo/DKIT 19 participants were selected for a level 5 in hospitality in DKIT followed by work placements in Diageo client establishments. To date 12 of the 19 are now in employment with a further 2 progressed into further education. (70% progression) Programme to be run again early 2016

Summary • There are lots of supports available to employers and we encourage them to meet with their local employer engagement officer • The Department is now very proactive in working with employers to address their recruitment and training requirements • Working together we can really change peoples lives and ensure that they get the opportunity to fully participate in society.

Contact us • employerunitne@welfare.ie • Sharon.curran@welfare.ie • Stephen.hanna@welfare.ie • 0429392675