Restart Scheme

The Restart scheme gives Universal Credit claimants who have been out of work for at least 12 months enhanced support to find jobs in their local area.

The Restart Scheme is part of the UK Government’s ‘Plan for Jobs’ initiative, designed to support and advise to help you to secure sustainable employment. The Department has carefully selected Serco for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver the restart Scheme. In addition, we partner with your local Jobcentre Plus to provide up to 12 months of bespoke support tailored to your needs.

We will continue to support you once you start work. The Restart Scheme provides you with a blend of face-to-face, personal support, digital activities and resources. When you join the programme, you’ll be introduced to your Job Coach who will support you to find work.

The Restart Scheme will provide intensive support designed to help Participants into sustained work. It will initially target people between 12 and 18 months claiming Universal Credit. The Restart Scheme will provide additional intensive support above what is available through Jobcentre Plus (JCP), supporting claimants into sustainable work.

Our Restart Scheme Success Stories!

Salvation Theatre Dudley

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Restart Scheme – Footfall Champions June 2022

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Long-term unemployed mum finds work through the Restart Scheme

Long-term unemployed mum finds work through the Restart Scheme As...

16 years unemployed into a new career with help from the Restart Scheme

James – Sixteen years unemployed to a new career with help from the Restart Scheme

James – Sixteen years unemployed to a new career with...

Getting people into work

Everyone’s journey into employment is different, and the Restart Scheme is designed to meet individual needs.
The Restart Scheme provides a personal Job Coach who will meet participates regularly and provide telephone, online and face to face support to:

Identify and encourage work goals and help to transfer your existing skills into next role

Develop a plan to help find new employment, and provide local work experience placements and skills training

Detail how benefit calculations will look once, in work and as you earn more

Support health, disability and wellbeing

Advise on how to manage money, child/caring responsibilities, housing and/or travel costs whilst on the scheme

Support to retain, job and progress in new role

How we can help

The Restart Scheme offers resources to help look for work, prepare for an interview, and support, once in employment:

Job search engine – thousands of job vacancies listed in one place
Careers advice and planning How to solve problems that are getting in the way of work
Factsheets and guides about specific industries, types of jobs that are available and what skills they require
A CV building tool and workshop to help you highlight your skills and experience
Interview preparation activities and mock interviews (1-to-1 and group sessions) as well as interview feedback
Handy guides on things like ‘How to look for a job,’ ‘How to apply for a job’ and ‘Writing a CV’
Matching you to the right job – we work with local employers and businesses, to help match you to suitable opportunities and placements

We’re providing intensive support designed to help Participants into sustained work. It will initially target people who have spent between 12 and 18 months claiming Universal Credit.

Restart will provide additional intensive support above what is available through Jobcentre Plus (JCP), supporting claimants into sustainable work.

We want to ensure all participants are given the best support to find employment. The Restart Scheme will be the first DWP employment programme procured with a customer satisfaction measure built in as an integral part of performance management. DWP has designed robust Customer Service Standards with contractual requirements which will ensure:

regular contact with all participants using a variety of methods and channels
a personalised offer for all participants, tailored to individual and local need