Qualitative evaluation of integrated employment and skills trials
Posted: 20 January 2010
New DWP research entitled Qualitative evaluation of integrated employment and skills trials is based on early research about the introduction and implementation of IES in the 12 trial areas in England between September 2008 and March 2009.
In the pilot areas Jobcentre Plus refers eligible customers with skills needs to a nextstep adviser for a skills health check which includes a skills action plan which can draw on the findings of an optional skills diagnostic tool. The research seems to be positive about co-location, but whilst the quality of JcP referrals is seen to improve, it suggests some JcP advisers had insufficient understanding of the nextstep advice service and what skills checks were about.
It reports that customers felt more self-confident and motivated after a skills health check but many felt the process helped to steer and inform rather than radically change their career plans and they were pessimistic about how any intervention could help them find work in a recession.
Experience of IES up to November 2009 suggests that things may have improved a bit since this research.
Download the research report [221KB PDF]