Mental attitude tests will “cut dole queue”

Dole claimants are to have their attitudes tested to see if they are mentally ready to go back to work.

The new approach will see jobseekers given tough psychological tests in a bid to give more support to those willing to work but lacking the confidence or skills.

It is hoped the tailored approach, which will be tested with 27,000 jobseekers in 27 cities, will reduce the burden on the soaring welfare bill.

Those judged to be less mentally prepared for life at work will be subject to more intensive coaching at the job centre, while those ready to walk into a new role will face a less rigorous regime.

Employment Minister Esther McVey said the new assessments would prevent cases such as that of Cait Reilly, the unemployed geology graduate who took ministers to court claiming a mandatory work experience programme in Poundland amounted to “slave labour”.

She said: “You’ll have heard in the past of people being put on courses.

“Did they need that course?

“No, so what were they doing on it? There will be a much more sophisticated placing of people onto the support they need.

“For a mum coming back to work after a long time, it could be about self-confidence and self-esteem. It is a tailor-made, far more sophisticated system.”

Miss McVey said the programme has been encouraged by businesses who are willing to take on jobseekers provided they have “the get-up-and-go, the right attitude”.

Details of the scheme show that unemployed people will be subject to attitude profiling to judge whether they are “determined”, “bewildered” or “despondent” about taking a job.

Those that are less mentally prepared for life at work will be subject to more intensive coaching at the job centre, while those who are optimistic such as graduates or those who have recently been made redundant will be placed on less rigorous regimes.

The attitudes, behavioural norms and levels of self-belief of dole claimants will be tested and profiles of their family backgrounds will also be included.

Earlier this year ministers signalled the end to a controversial deal with private firm Atos, which had been tasked with assessing whether benefit claimants in Britain are fit to work.

This followed government criticism over “significant quality failures”.

Ms McVey’s “segmentation” programme has been inspired by similar projects in Australia.