At the end of 2010 the government will be introducing a new adult advancement and careers service in England.  The new service will be available to everyone and is intended to bring together everything a person needs to know to advance in life and in work.

The Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills is currently piloting 10 prototype services that are trailing new ways of working and will help to inform how the new service should be delivered.

The Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), is delivering one of the pilot areas for the Advancement Network Prototype.

A multi-agency Task Group has been set-up to oversee the development, delivery and monitoring of the pilot project. The partners are the local authorities of Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth and Southampton, Jobcentre Plus, the LSC and nextstep.

The south Hampshire pilot is using a customer focused approach; delivery is be via a hub and spoke framework. Co-location of staff from key agencies will take place in the hub locations.

The model introduces a "no wrong door" multi agency approach, incorporating all parts of the public and voluntary sectors to be 'Employment and Skills' aware and refer their clients and customers to the "advancement experts" or advancement hub for dedicated support to overcome barriers which stop people securing and progressing within employment.

These barriers can include health, housing, finance, childcare, transport, a criminal record and not having the right qualifications. The PUSH model will provide enhanced information, advice, guidance and support via "advancement experts" to help individuals to address these barriers and progress into work or develop their careers within work

This document  'Shaping the future - a new adult advancement and careers service for England' - November 2008 DIUS  - sets out the proposals for the new national service.  Download here

If you want to know more about PUSH please visit our website  Click here.