But my understanding is that Werkpleinen still exist as a pretty comprehensive network (at least cf. to UK) with co-located services and relatively open access. So a little more nuanced/ multi-level than CSJ implies Also obvs big difference with UK is we don't have insurance/ assistance divide!
Social insurance is national through the UWV (Employee Insurance Agency). They employ advisers and commission services, and co-manage local jobcentres ('werkpleinen') with councils. Unlike UK they use a lot of segmentation/ triage, but like UK it's increasingly online. www.werk.nl/werkzoekende...
Yep although I think it depends how you do it, I don't think national govt has a monopoly on bureaucratic contracting!
Good question! I'm sure it would still be possible, as those areas still have residents with underlying entitlements to benefits, employment, skills support etc (and national/ local govt responsibilities) - but must admit I'm not close enough to detail of those reforms.
... again shows why you can't just lift and shift - would be very difficult (if not impossible) to devolve AEB in England to individual local authorities in my view. But of course you could carve out funding for retraining etc and devolve that so local areas can commission (rather than grant fund).
No I don't! But just googling, this seems to set out how Dutch funding for schools and colleges works. eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-edu... My understanding of the 'skills' bit of employment devo though is that it is specifically around retraining etc - not full equivalent of AEB. Which...
And Dan's paper was invaluable in the paper I wrote in 2017 for LGA, arguing for much more devo based on what has worked in Netherlands. Which includes view one-stop integration between the national employment service and local provision (Work Squares) pdf learningandwork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Also I would recommend this 2016 paper by Dan Finn (pdf) which runs thru various lessons from overseas. Ch 3 covers Dutch approach/ history on social insurance AND social assistance. Lots we can learn from, but not without some criticism too (e.g. screengrab below) core.ac.uk/download/pdf...
So I think we can definitely learn from Netherlands' approach to employment - in lots of ways - but I would be very cautious about thinking that one part of one element of it (the employment support element of their social assistance model) will be the answer to the challenges we're facing here.
Third related point is that municipalities in Netherlands were pretty well placed to do this by 2009, after literally decades thru 1990s and 2000s of different national and local commissioning and municipal delivery. Contrast with challenges for local govt now after 15 years of austerity.