15 March 2007 - Publication of DWP research report no 418 - Pathways to Work: Extension to Existing Customers (Matched Case Study)
A qualitative research report is published today by the DWP on the ‘Pathways to Work’ Incapacity Benefit Reform pilots.
The main findings of the published research are:
- Incapacity Benefit Personal Advisers (IBPAs) generally welcomed the idea of offering existing customers support.
- Existing customers tend to have more complex and entrenched barriers to work than new customers.
- Their barriers to work created challenges for IBPAs in terms of the scope for effective referrals and outcomes.
- Customers supported the idea of Pathways in principle but questioned the timing of the intervention if coping with chronic conditions.
- There was a reduced work-focus within the Work Focused Interviews compared to new customers.
- Instead, IBPAs tended to focus on exploring barriers, building a relationship and reassuring customers that the programme would not force them back to work.
- The Condition Management Programme was seen to be the most appropriate referral option for existing customers, but group work was off-putting to some customers and sometimes they felt the programme was too short.
- New Deal for Disabled People Job Brokers and the Return to Work Credit were rarely used since so few customers were seen to be close to employment.
- Customers were at an early stage in Pathways so there were few outcomes to report.
- There were some positive 'soft' outcomes indicating progress, such as customers being positive about IBPAs and the Work Focused Interviews process and for those referred to the Condition management Programme, an understanding of their health condition.
Notes to editors
- The DWP research report Pathways to Work: Extension to Existing Customers (Matched Case Study) is published today. The research was conducted by the National Centre for Social Research (Natcen). The reports authors were Josie Dixon, Martin Mitchell and Sarah Dickens of the National Centre for Social Research.
- Other evaluation reports published on the pilots are:
- Pathways to Work: Findings from the final cohort in a qualitative longitudinal panel of incapacity benefit recipients, Social Policy Research Unit, DWP report 398, October 2006.
- Early quantitative evidence on the impact of the Pathways to Work pilots, Institute of Fiscal Studies, DWP report 354, June 2006.
- Pathways to Work from Incapacity Benefits: A study of experience and use of Return to Work Credit, Social Policy Research Unit, DWP report no. 353, June 2006.
- Incapacity Benefit Reforms Pilot: Findings from the second cohort in a longitudinal panel of clients, Social Policy Research Unit, DWP report no. 345, April 2006
- Pathways to Work: Qualitative research on the Condition Management Programme, Policy Studies Institute, DWP research report no. 356, April 2006
- Incapacity Benefit Reforms – the Personal Adviser Role & Practices: Stage Two, National Centre for Social Research, DWP report no. 268, Sept 2005
- IB Reforms Pilot: Findings from a longitudinal panel of clients, Social Policy Research Unit, DWP report no. 259, July 05
- Incapacity Benefit Reforms - The Personal Adviser Role & Practices, National Centre for Social Research, DWP report no 212, Nov 04
- Incapacity Benefit Reforms - Early findings from qualitative research, National Centre for Social Research, DWP report no 202, Sept 04
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Prepared by the: Department for Work and Pensions Work,
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