Scottish Asylum Right to Work Proposal

3. Pilot Delivery

3.1 Support for pilot participants

A fundamental principle underpinning the pilot is that participants should not be financially worse off, which will require some degree of support while they transition from unemployment to the desired outcome of being more financially stable and independent, and able to make a positive economic contribution. As a minimum, this should initially involve the provision of asylum accommodation being maintained, until the individual has been in stable employment for a suitable length of time to be able to transition to local authority or private housing. In terms of ongoing asylum support, the EAG suggest a number of possible options drawn from international case studies; for example offering an allowable earned income before support is withdrawn, or a staggered or top-up payment in order to supplement lower incomes. Both of these measures currently feature to some extent within the UK benefits system.

In addition to the continuation of some level of asylum support, stakeholders have been clear that a flexible, wrap-around provision of bespoke services will be crucial to ensure people seeking asylum are effectively supported and that the desired pilot outcomes are achieved. At the outset of the pilot, the Scottish Government will develop guidance for host local delivery partners to establish standards with regards to the support offer requirements. Pilot areas and local lead delivery partners – with support from the Scottish Government where appropriate – will then be responsible for developing this package of support. This may involve working with a range of third-sector organisations within their local area, as well as larger national-level bodies; for example the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership in terms of skills recognition support for employers and colleges with experience in ESOL delivery, to ensure that the conditions are created to enable people to become ready for work.

We know from stakeholders that New Scots employability pathways are complex and that many of those in Scotland with the right to work are not currently employed. The employability support as part of the pilot is intended to target this, while we will also seek to gather further data and evidence with regards to the specific challenges those seeking asylum have in finding employment.

In the first instance, this support could take the form of a detailed information pack on the scheme and how it will operate within that locality. Some of the key features of this support will be to offer employability, skills recognition using informal benchmarking, and language learning to participants, in order to increase the likelihood of them finding suitable employment and to assist their wider integration. Further support such as immigration advice, accommodation support and advice on their financial support entitlement will also be considered. It is important that the support package draws upon existing expertise in each pilot area.

While the pilot would, within its delivery model, ensure a minimum level of support is in place, host pilot areas may choose to deliver a more extensive level of support where resource and capacity enables them to do so. This would facilitate more detailed findings in terms of the pilot evaluation, by assessing what outcomes varying levels of support help to achieve. It is proposed that the local lead delivery partner where the individual lives will be responsible for providing support to pilot participants.

Given that the scope and scale would need to be agreed with the UK Government, costings for delivering the pilot would be undertaken at this stage in order to determine the level of funding required.

Areas for further exploration

• Further engagement with the Home Office is required to agree the level of support which will be maintained for participants during the duration of the pilot.

3.2 Role for Scottish Government in pilot delivery

Successful delivery of the pilot will require close working between UK Government, Scottish Government, Scottish local authorities, third sector partners and employers. There are several delivery models that can be explored, which require further scoping based on the role that different organisations are able to play.

The Scottish Government would have primary oversight of the pilot and act as a key point of liaison to facilitate delivery between relevant partners, which may include:

• Establishing appropriate governance arrangements and facilitating engagement and information sharing between employers, delivery partners and the UK Government.
• Working with partners to develop clear roles and responsibilities - alongside robust guidance - for employers and people seeking asylum.
• Developing guidance on the minimum level of support for participants.
• Engaging with the Home Office to facilitate effective delivery of the pilot, including ensuring appropriate legislation is in place to ensure deliverability of the pilot.
• Working with partners to monitor and evaluate the pilot.

Additionally, prior to the launch of the pilot, the Scottish Government, working closely with delivery partners, could host information sessions for employers to present the pilot and offer the opportunity to ask questions. This would help ensure they understand their role in the scheme and may address one of the recommendations in the EAG report, which focuses on working with employers to tackle inequalities and discrimination and to address potential barriers in the labour market.

The Scottish Government would also consider any support that partners might require to ensure that the relevant monitoring procedures are undertaken with regards to the pilot.