Other community, social and personal services

Tender description

Southwark Works Network Coordination – including network management, assessment of customers and referral to Southwark Works providers and/or external support; operation of a hub office for customers; customer record management to track progress and outcomes, sourcing of vacancies through employer engagement activity; providing recruitment services to local employers, organising job fairs for the network, supporting the council in communicating the success stories. Southwark Works is the council’s longstanding employment support programme and is formed of a network of providers who offer a range of tailored employment support based on underlying needs, such as mental health, homelessness or disability. This model aims to ensure there is expertise available locally to deal with the range of issues that affect resident’s ability to gain and sustain employment whilst providing a recruitment service for local employers. The primary aim of the Southwark Works service is to support residents into employment. The Southwark Works Network Coordination service will contribute to this by facilitating an efficient, professional, coherent and competent network of providers who are able to support clients with a range of needs. The programme operates through two main elements: Directly contracted employment support for a variety of target groups and within key growth sectors in the borough (i.e. construction) from a variety of specialist providers (who make up the ‘network’). Network co-ordination – including network management and capacity building, assessment of customers and referral to Southwark Works providers and/or external support; operation of a hub office for customers; customer record management to track progress and outcomes, sourcing of vacancies through employer engagement activity; providing recruitment services to local employers, organising job fairs for the network, supporting the council in communicating success stories. The Southwark Works Network Coordination provider will be responsible for delivering the following outcomes: (i) A well managed hub office that is inclusive and welcoming to both Southwark residents and the employment support providers commissioned through the Southwark Works Framework; (ii) Outreach and engagement that leads to Southwark residents who are unemployed or who wish to progress from low paid / insecure work receiving support through the Southwark Works service; (iii) Clear client journeys and access to a network of employment support providers that best meet their needs; (iv) Engagement with employers that leads to suitable and accessible vacancies / opportunities being secured for Southwark Works clients; (v) Support for Southwark residents who want to progress from low paid / insecure work; (vi) Capacity building the Southwark Works network of providers; (vii) Client information management and caseworker training that leads to robust data on the outcomes achieved across the Southwark Works service; (viii) Apprenticeship guidance and support for the network which leads to more apprenticeship opportunities being offered by Southwark employers and secured by residents; (ix) Access to basic skills training; (x) Promotion of Southwark Works as a gateway into jobs and apprenticeship opportunities; (xi) Fostering collaboration across the network, enabling Southwark Works as a whole to achieve the best outcomes for clients.