The research focuses on eight groups:

It considers some generic issues that arise when considering 'what works' then sets out the evidence relating to each of the different customer groups. For each group, the report looks at the context, the types of provision, aspects of delivery, and 'what works'.

The DWP has been considering a more decentralised approach to the delivery of interventions for customers. The central objective of such a decentralised approach would be to devolve greater powers to Jobcentre Plus Districts Managers and Personal Advisers (PAs) so that they could decide the appropriate type of provision needed to suit their customers and the local labour market.

It is a prerequisite of a devolved system of service delivery that District Managers and PAs have an awareness of the effectiveness of different types of provision. The aim of this review was to identify, from the current stock of DWP evaluation evidence, which interventions have worked most effectively for key customer groups.

The review collated and synthesised evidence drawn from both published and in-house research from DWP and Jobcentre Plus. In addition, evidence was collected from members of research teams involved in the evaluation of DWP and Jobcentre Plus programmes by means of an e-mail survey.

A workshop was held at which researchers and DWP and Jobcentre Plus staff met to consider the evidence gathered and identify any gaps in the review process.

The evidence reveals the diversity of the population of customers for whom provision is made. Customers are diverse in terms of personal characteristics, household circumstances, their neighbourhood context, the barriers to employment they face and their attitudes and motivation.

In many instances the customer groups are simply too all embracing to be useful as a guide to provision. Customers often face several inter-related factors that make it difficult for them to take up employment. For most customer groups the evidence points to the need for a holistic approach rather than a one-dimensional approach to provision.

 Identifying needs and the associated provision on the basis of a broad customer grouping based on one or a few customer characteristics militates against this kind of holistic approach, and may result in inappropriate provision for some individuals.

Department for Work and Pensions
Phone: +44 20 7962 8562

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01/01/2007

Researchers from the Warwick Institute for Employment, University of Warwick.

research

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Employment