Where are these new jobs?

The main sectors for recent jobs growth are in construction, finance, hospitality, and services.  Many of these offer opportunities for people to enter the world of work at a point that is most appropriate for them and they also offer opportunities for career development and promotion.

Surely CHCP clients will lose out if they work, compared to benefits?

This depends on the individual circumstances of each case, but generally work need not mean that people lose out financially and the benefits system is now much more tailored towards ensuring that work improves finances for people.  Detailed consideration of issues around benefits levels is a key part of services to support employability.

Is this just an attempt at cutting benefit claimant numbers?

No.  This agenda is a Glaswegian one, to connect people and their communities with a strong city economy.

What will this team do?

The team consists of staff who will be located as individuals or pairs in CHCP premises on a rotating basis throughout the South West of Glasgow (for example, every Tuesday afternoon in one place, every Wednesday morning another).  They will make contact with staff who work in CHCP premises and explain why they are there.  The team will take referrals from CHCP staff for clients/patients who wish to explore options for work further, or directly from people who use CHCP services who self-refer.  They will discuss these options with the patient/client and make an initial assessment of their readiness to move towards the jobs market.  In many cases, this will mean an onward referral to appropriate support services that are already in place locally.  The team will also have a FULL time Occupational Therapist who can assist in assessment and development of a plan for clients to return to work.

CHCP staff have enough work already, how are they supposed to learn about employment issues and find the time to talk to patients/clients about that?

There is no expectation that CHCP staff will become experts in employment issues.  This team will act as the initial point of referral for clients/patients who show an interest in the area of work.  CHCP staff are being asked to consider employment as a major means of improving health and quality of life for clients/patients and simply to raise the issue with them.   Consideration will be given to recording systems in this respect, but only on the basis of the experience gained through this work.

How is a referral made to this team?

If a patient/client shows an interest in exploring employment issues then CHCP staff are asked to suggest that they make contact with the team in the premises themselves.  A leaflet with details of the service can be handed to the patient/client. 

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