06 June 2008 – Publication of DWP research report 499: Extension of the New Deal Plus for Lone Parents Pilot to Scotland and Wales: qualitative evaluation

New research published today presents the qualitative findings on the extension of the New Deal Plus for Lone Parents (ND+fLP) pilot to two Jobcentre Plus districts, one in Scotland and the other in Wales.

Originally launched in five districts in England in April 2005, ND+fLP was extended to include two districts in Scotland and Wales from October 2006. ND+fLP is a package of support aimed at helping lone parents move onto mainstream welfare-to-work programmes such as New Deal for Lone Parents or into work. The elements of provision included:

• Pre-employment support: measures designed to support and motivate lone parents so they can become more ‘job ready’ (More Voluntary Contact, Discovery Events, Work Search Premium, Action Plans) and financial assistance for training and childcare before clients start work (flexible provision, childcare assist).
• In Work support: financial provision aimed at guaranteeing lone parents a clear financial gain from work (In Work Credit) and some protection against unforeseen problems on entering work (In Work Emergency Fund), combined with additional adviser assistance after the client has started work (In Work Support).
• Operational support for delivery: additional staff resources were made available to help districts deliver the pilot provision. This included enhanced training for advisers, extra administrative support, an additional Childcare Partnership Manager in each district, a marketing package for ND+fLP and jobpoints in Children’s Centres.

This evaluation confirms many of the findings of the previous qualitative evaluation of ND+fLP in England (DWP Research Report 426). Other research outputs relating to ND+fLP include an impact assessment of pilot provision for lone parents (DWP Research Report 415).

The main findings of this evaluation are:

• In general, staff viewed the provision offered as extensive, but with some elements requiring further tailoring. Lone parents were often surprised at the volume of support that was available to them.
• In Work Credit (IWC), Flexible Provision, and In Work Emergency Fund (IWEF) were felt by staff to be the strengths of the pilot. IWC was viewed as particularly effective when presented in the context of a Better Off Calculation. 
• In Scotland the pilot operated a decentralized model of delivery, while in Wales the pilot moved from a decentralized to a centralized mode. Both districts felt that their model worked for them and their local circumstances, with no clear evidence suggesting that one model was better than the other.
• The introduction of enhanced training for advisers improved advisers’ skills, but the training was not specifically tailored for working with lone parents. Likewise, guidance was viewed as helpful, but sometimes over-complicated.
• Marketing - an ND+fLP ‘chocolate box’ leaflet was viewed as attractive and successful. However, advisers felt that bureaucratic procurement procedures inhibited use of the marketing budget.
• Advisers were unclear about the application process and uses of More Voluntary Contact, Flexible Provision, and In Work Emergency Fund.
• Childcare Assist, which offers childcare provision in the week prior to employment, was rarely used and not felt to be timed appropriately.
• The limited availability of Management Information affected the ability of advisers and managers to assess the impacts of pilot elements. 

Notes to Editors

1. This research report is based on three waves of qualitative fieldwork, conducted between February and October 2007. Each wave included in-depth interviews with Jobcentre Plus staff, observations of meetings between advisers and lone parents, as well as face-to-face and telephone follow-up interviews with lone parents. The research was carried out by GHK Consulting, a research organisation which is independent of DWP.
2. Research Report 499 – Extension of the New Deal Plus for Lone Parents Pilot to Scotland and Wales: qualitative evaluation< is published on 5th June 2008. The report is available on the DWP website and hard copies can be obtained from Paul Noakes, Central Social Research Services, Department for Work and Pensions, 4th floor Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT.

 

Prepared by: Department for Work and Pensions Children & Poverty Directorate