Unemployment: Work Placement: Environmental Scheme

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A decision made 16 November 2012:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2012-0091
Decision Summary Title :	Environmental Placement Scheme		Date of Decision Summary:	15 November 2012
Decision Summary Author:	Business Manager		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Environmental Placement Scheme		Date of Written Report:	5 November 2012
Written Report Author:	Operations Director		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Environmental Placement Scheme
Decision(s): The Minister decided to implement a non-statutory Environmental Placement Scheme with effect from 5 November 2012 until 14 December 2012.
Reason(s) for Decision: An Environmental Placement Scheme has been approved in agreement with the Transport and Technical Services Department and the Department for Planning and Environment. This scheme will enable a small number of individuals who are registered with the Social Security Department as actively seeking work to improve their employability through working on environmental activities. The incentive payments will encourage participants to make the best use of the support available to them in terms of improving their employability and supporting them into paid employment. The scheme will ensure that individuals successfully completing the required training and voluntary work placement will receive a payment in respect of their reasonable costs and will further reward young people for successfully completing the 6 week work placement. The scheme commenced on 5 November 2012, and will continue until 14 December 2012. This pilot is expected to establish the basis for further environmental employability schemes and dependent on its success, other schemes may be implemented at a later date.
Resource Implications: There are no manpower implications. The additional administration will be absorbed within existing Social Security processes. The total cost of the pilot scheme is £4,050.00 for the 6 week period in respect of all 9 individuals successfully completing their placement. This cost will be met through existing departmental budget.
Action required: Operations Director to liaise with teams providing support to young jobseekers to provide information on Environmental Placement Scheme and to implement appropriate payment and audit procedures.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):