Social landlords are close to communities facing barriers to work and can bring local presence, resident relationships and an understanding of place. But that does not mean housing providers should become employment services. 

The final Jobs Plus evaluation provides fresh evidence about what a community-based employment model in social housing can achieve and how it works in practice. At the same time, wider employment and skills reforms are strengthening locally led, partnership-based support.  

Part of HQN’s Policy into Practice series, this briefing directly addresses the Burnham government’s ambition to help more young people into work and build a more preventative state, alongside the wider shift towards locally led, joined-up employment, health and skills support. 

Who you will hear from: 

• Lynsey Sweeney, Managing Director, Communities that Work, will chair the briefing and provide a horizon scan of the key employment and skills policy developments shaping this agenda. Drawing on Jobs Plus and wider sector evidence, she will explore what is changing, what it could mean for social landlords and where housing can add most value within an increasingly local and partnership-based system
• You’ll also hear directly from practice. Helen Phoenix, Head of Work and Wellbeing, LiveWell Leadership Team, South Yorkshire Housing Association, and Karen Kenmare, Head of Specialist Housing, Thirteen Group, will share learning from Jobs Plus in Maltby and Stockton. Their case studies will show how policy and partnership ambitions are translating on the ground, what housing organisations bring through their relationships with residents and communities, and what has worked, proved challenging and can be learned by other social landlords. 

What will be covered: 

• What the latest Jobs Plus evidence tells us about place-based employment support in social housing
• Where landlords can add value through place, resident relationships and partnership, and where specialist employment services should lead
• How housing organisations can respond to the changing employment and skills landscape, with a post-event briefing note setting out what has changed, what it means and next steps. 

Why attend now: 

Employment and skills support is shifting towards more locally led, integrated delivery, while new Jobs Plus evidence gives social landlords a stronger basis for deciding where they can contribute. This high-level briefing will help delegates understand the policy direction, test what is relevant to their organisation and identify realistic partnership opportunities. 

Who should attend? 

Aimed primarily at managers, heads of service and strategic leads in social housing with responsibility for: 

• Community investment, employment and skills  
• Tenancy sustainment, financial inclusion and resident support  
• Housing strategy, policy and partnerships  
• Neighbourhoods, communities and resident engagement.  

Also relevant to directors and senior leaders with oversight of these areas. 

If you would like to purchase a group ticket for different members of your team to attend all of the Policy into practice sessions or would like to book multiple members of your team onto any of the individual sessions, please contact [email protected] and we will apply a group booking discount.

9:30am Welcome and introductions 

Lynsey Sweeney, Managing Director, Communities that Work

9:35am What’s changing next? An employment and skills policy horizon scan 

Lynsey Sweeney, Managing Director, Communities that Work

• The key employment and skills policy shifts social landlords need to understand 
• What locally led, partnership-based support means for housing organisations and communities 
• Where housing can add most value — and where specialist employment partners should lead.

9:55am Jobs Plus in practice: learning from Maltby 

Helen Phoenix, Head of Work and Wellbeing, LiveWell Leadership Team, South Yorkshire Housing Association

• How the Jobs Plus model works locally and the role of South Yorkshire Housing Association 
• What has helped engage residents and connect housing with employment support 
• What has been learned so far, including challenges and lessons for other social landlords.

10:15am Jobs Plus in practice: learning from Stockton 

Karen Kenmare, Head of Specialist Housing, Thirteen Group

• How Jobs Plus has been delivered locally and Thirteen’s role within the partnership 
• What housing brings to employment support through its relationships with residents and communities 
• What has worked, what has been challenging and what other social landlords can learn from the experience.

10:35am Discussion, Q&A and wrap-up 

11:00am Close 

If you are unable to attend an event or public training course, please let us know in writing (email is fine) at least 48 hours before. Please email [email protected]

Otherwise, a cancellation fee of £60 plus VAT will be chargeable.

If you are using a package place to attend and do not inform us within the agreed time frame, then a place will be taken to cover your non-attendance.

Cancellations must be made in writing and will be acknowledged by HQN Limited.