24 July 08 – Publication of DWP research report 517: DWP able to work: realising potential evaluation

Research published today by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides the results of an evaluation of training events held for Jobcentre Plus staff as part of the Able to Work: Realising Potential pilots.  The events were aimed at Jobcentre Plus staff who work with employers, to improve their skills and confidence in engaging with employers on disability issues.

The main findings are:

• The events were very well received, with the vast majority of respondents reporting that the event had either met or exceeded their expectations, that they had benefited from participating, and that the training would help them carry out their role.
• A pre-event assessment of staff awareness of disability issues showed that there were relatively low levels of awareness, and that many staff lacked confidence in dealing with disability issues.
• Staff perceptions of their awareness of issues concerning the recruitment of disabled people and people with health conditions increased following participation in the event, and almost all respondents felt that they now had more confidence to engage with employers on disability issues.
• Requests for additional training included training for working with customers with a mental health condition, and specific training on how to work with small and micro businesses.
• Respondents particularly valued the contribution of the disabled facilitator, who was able to challenge participants’ beliefs and present examples from his own experience.

Notes to Editors

• The DWP research report ‘DWP Able to Work: Realising Potential Evaluation’ is published on 24 July 2008.
• The National Employment Panel (now Working Ventures UK) introduced the Able to Work: Realising Potential pilots with the aim of engaging employers and promoting recruitment opportunities for people with health conditions and disabilities.  As part of this project, 10 events were held for Jobcentre Plus staff who work with employers to improve their skills and confidence in engaging with employers on disability issues.  The report provides an evaluation of these events.
• The events took place in 10 Jobcentre Plus districts between March 2007 and February 2008.  The evaluation of the events comprised online surveys and in-depth interviews; both were conducted before and after the events.  The evaluation was conducted by SQW Consulting.
• The research assessed prior expectations of the training, levels of awareness of disability issues, perceptions of the training process, changes in staff attitudes and confidence towards engaging with employers, the extent to which participants in the event were able to put what they had learnt into practice, and any changes in how they carried out their roles as a result of the training. 
• The Realising Potential project was delivered through a new partnership, led by the National Employment Panel and including Employers’ Forum on Disability, Department for Work and Pensions, Jobcentre Plus and the Office for Disability Issues – the prime funder (www.officefordisability.gov.uk).
• The National Employment Panel closed on 31 March 2008.  It merged with the Sector Skills Development Agency and became the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (www.ukces.org.uk).  The Employer Coalition network continues to operate as part of Working Ventures UK.  Working Ventures UK (WVUK) engages with employers and employment and skills providers to open up more and better jobs for people from disadvantaged communities (www.wvuk.co.uk).
• The Employers’ Forum on Disability (www.efd.org.uk) designed the staff training events.  Employers' Forum on Disability is an employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects business.  They aim to enable companies to become disability confident by making it easier to recruit and retain disabled employees.

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Prepared by: Department for Work and Pensions Welfare to Work Directorate