16 December 2009 – Publication of DWP research report 611: 'Qualitative evaluation of the adult learning option'
New independent research published today commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions describes the qualitative evaluation of the Adult Learning Option (ALO) pilot. ALO was one strand of the New Deal for Skills (NDfS) and ran in five Jobcentre Plus districts in England, between September 2006 and August 2008. The aim of the ALO pilot was to provide customers claiming benefits (inactive benefits and Jobseeker's Allowance), whose lack of skills or qualifications was seen as the main barrier to finding employment, with the opportunity to take up an NVQ Level 2 training course to improve the customer’s chances of finding work.
DWP commissioned British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) to carry out a longitudinal qualitative evaluation of ALO with the aim of informing policies associated with the better integration of employment and skills services.. The evaluation of Adult Learning Option explored the factors that underpinned take-up of the option. It examined the delivery of this aspect of the employment and skills service as well as the outcomes for customers. The research also examined the added value of ALO and explored the efficiency of working practices between stakeholder delivery agencies. The report builds on the research to make recommendations to inform government initiatives for the better integration of employment and skills services. The research was wholly qualitative in nature and comprised 209 in-depth interviews with ALO customers and professionals responsible for delivering the pilot. The research took place between June 2007 and March 2009.
Key Findings
Take-up and delivery
- Key drivers for customer take-up of ALO were found to be staff understanding, perception and willingness to refer eligible customers on to ALO, and customers’ attitude, awareness and ability to take it up. Take-up levels were seen to increase through the pilot, as Jobcentre Plus advisers acquired greater knowledge and understanding. However, staff felt more comprehensive marketing could have improved take-up.
- Jobcentre Plus advisors streamlined the referral process over time, but administrative processes perceived as complex and burdensome persisted and these discouraged referral.
- Customers were generally happy with training provision – particularly where this featured work experience. However some found the demands of full-time training unexpectedly high. In addition, customers’ had low recall of follow-up meetings at Jobcentre, leading some to perceive the service as disjointed.
Joint Working
- Staff felt that agencies involved did not have a mutual understanding of each others’ roles and priorities with joint communications and staff training seen as lacking, although relationships were seen to improve as the pilot progressed.
- Some staff were more motivated and aware of ALO, and acted as ‘ALO Champions’ – they supported good joint working between agencies and improved delivery. However, there was a general lack of involvement of Nextstep Advisors and Skills Coaches, as although their involvement was viewed positively in principle, it was perceived to complicate the process in practice.
Impacts of ALO
- Customers and staff reported a range of positive impacts, including qualifications, hard and soft skills. Customers generally felt employment prospects had improved. However, NVQ level 3 qualifications, not offered by the pilot, were felt by some to be necessary to secure their desired employment – not all could pursue this independently.
Notes to Editors
- The ALO ended as planned in August 2008. In September 2008, the first of the Integrated Employment and Skills Trials were established in West Midlands – trials were established in 12 areas by March 2009.
- New Deal for Skills was announced in March 2004 as an initiative offering a package of measures designed to provide workless people, with no skills or low skills the opportunity to improve their skills and to move from welfare into sustainable employment.
- Nextstep is the free branded face to face adult careers service provided by the Learning and Skills Council. A new adult advancement and careers service will be launched in 2010.
- DWP and BIS are preparing new systems and protocols to share customer skills and employment data under legislation introduced in the Welfare Reform Act (2009).
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