1. What is a Work Trial designed for? Answer: A Work Trial is designed for applicants who have been out of work for some time to demonstrate to an employer that they have the ability to do the job and gives the employer a period of time to assess the applicant’s ability and potential before they take the final decision to employ the person and take them on the payroll. It is particularly useful where the employer would like to offer the applicant a position but still has some reservations about whether the person can do the job, or where the eligible applicant is interested in the position but would like to try out the job first. It does not cost the employer anything and the applicant retains entitlement to benefits and allowances that may be in payment for the duration of the Work Trial. 2.What length of time in days can a Work Trial last? Answer: From 1 to 15 working days. This is decided between the Jobcentre Plus Representative when the Work Trial for the individual (Candidate) is arranged. 3.How long does a vacancy have to last (in weeks) in order to be eligible for a Work Trial? Answer:The vacancy must last for a minimum of 13 weeks and must be notified to Jobcentre Plus and set up on the Jobcentre Plus system before a Work Trial can start, therefore this does not apply to temporary contracts of employment. 4.What is the minimum number of hours for a vacancy to be eligible for a Work Trial? Answer: A vacancy must be for a minimum of 16 hours per week. 5.How does a Work Trial affect an employer in terms of normal recruitment? Answer: If the vacancy is suitable and an eligible applicant presents themselves as a Candidate, the employer must decide if he/she is happy to use a Work Trial. A Work Trial Agreement must be signed between the Employer and a Jobcentre Plus Representative, if one does not already exist, and a Work Trial Confirmation form is raised, which determines the start and end date of the Work Trial. The recruitment process will be suspended for the duration of the Work Trial that the Candidate is participating on, in order for the Candidate to be given a fair chance of completing the Work Trial. NB. This only applies to a vacancy providing that an eligible Candidate has been selected and a specific Work Trail for that candidate has been arranged. 6.How long does the Candidate usually have to unemployed to be eligible for the Work Trial scheme? Answer: Usually a Candidate must have been registered unemployed for a minimum of 26 weeks/ 6 months and must be aged 18 or over. 7.Can anybody be counted as eligible if they are under 26 weeks unemployed? Answer: Work Trials are there to help people returning to the labour market to demonstrate their abilities and potential before the employer takes the decision to employ them. There are a number of examples where a Candidate can be counted as eligible before being out of work for 26 weeks. These are: 1. People with disabilities or ongoing health conditions. 2. People with numeracy and /or literacy needs 3. People whose first language is not English 4. Offenders/ex-offenders 5. Ex-regulars from HM Armed Forces 6. Labour Market returners 7. Large scale redundancies 8. Refugees 9. Homeless/ Foyer residents 10. Recovering drug Addicts 11. People on a New Deal Adviser caseload 12. Non-Jobseekers Allowance customers in receipt of other benefits. 8.What are the Key Stages for setting up a Work Trial for an employer? Answer: There are 5 key stages involved: 1. An employer places a vacancy with jobcentre Plus 2. A Work Trial Agreement is signed by the employer and Jobcentre Plus. 3. A suitable candidate is identified and a Work Trial is arranged to start (at this point the vacancy is suspended for the duration of the Work Trial) 4. A monitoring Visit is arranged where appropriate to check on progress to assess if the Candidate is likely to be employed 5. The Work Trial is successfully completed and the Candidate is employed, or the employer or the Candidate terminates the Work Trial early and the Candidate is not employed, the normal recruitment process resumes. Please note that for the duration of the Work Trial the Candidate receives the benefits/ allowances that he/she is entitled to and travel expenses and meal allowance. This is paid direct to the Candidate via Jobcentre Plus, or can be paid by the employer and the amount refunded by Jobcentre Plus if the employer prefers, but it is essential that the employer DOES NOT pay the Candidate any wages or remuneration for work during the period of the Work Trial. For more information please contact either Simon.poole@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk or Ian.Munroe@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk