Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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92. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 78 of 5 November 2015, if she will provide, copies of the detailed service statements which the contracted JobPath companies are required to abide by, in delivering specifically tailored job search assistance activation services to customers, under contract with her Department; the full detail of the minimum elements of customer service that were stipulated by her Department, as part of the said contracts; if customers availing of JobPath are made aware of the minimum levels of service they can expect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40105/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that will support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Following the completion of a public procurement process, two companies were selected to provide the JobPath service - Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited.

The minimum elements of customer service that the JobPath companies are required to provide are as follows:

- A one-to-one meeting with a personal advisor within twenty (20) working days of the jobseeker being referred to JobPath.

- A Personal Progression Plan (PPP) to be agreed between the jobseeker and a personal advisor to identify the supports and actions needed to help the client access employment.

- Ongoing one-to-one review meetings between the jobseeker and a personal advisor at least every twenty (20) working days where the Jobseeker has not entered employment.

- If the jobseeker is still unemployed at thirteen (13) weeks, twenty-six (26) weeks and thirty-nine (39) weeks from their commencement on JobPath, an in-depth review should be held and the PPP updated accordingly.

- In-employment support to be provided for at least the first thirteen (13) weeks of employment.

- An end of programme review meeting to be held with the jobseeker.

- A mechanism for clients to provide feedback on the service other than via the personal advisor.

- An effective mechanism for clients to submit complaints and receive reports on the outcome of the investigation of any complaints submitted.

- At a minimum the services shall be available to clients during the hours of 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday inclusive but excluding public holidays.

- Meetings between personal advisors and jobseekers must be held at locations that are accessible to by public or private transport with a normal journey time of no more than sixty (60) minutes.

- JobPath contractors are required to publish a “service statement” detailing the service that will be provided and a copy of the service statement must be given to each client who engages with JobPath.

Upon referral to JobPath, each jobseeker is invited to attend a group information session that is hosted jointly by an official from the department and a representative of the JobPath company at which details of the service are provided. A copy of the company’s service statement is given to each person. Copies of the service statement of both companies will be forwarded to the Deputy.