Westminster Applied Evaluation Workshop

A series of seminars organised by Policy Studies Institute and
the Centre for Employment Research

session one: 12 November 2009

A review of evidence and meta-analysis
for the Department for Work and Pensions

Anne Green (Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick)

Abstract

This presentation is based on a research report reviewing the current stock of Department for Work and Pensions evaluation evidence in order to identify which interventions have worked most effectively for key customer groups:

• young people;
• long-term unemployed adults;
• older benefit claimants;
• lone parents;
• partners of benefit claimants;
• disabled people and people with health conditions;
• ethnic minorities; and
• the most disadvantaged.
  

In addition to a detailed review for each of the customer groups covering contextual issues, type of provision, aspects of delivery and 'what works', a number of key findings of generic relevance emerged. Such issues include the diversity of the population of customers for whom provision is made and what they look for in interventions, the central role of the Personal Adviser in the success of interventions and the importance of motivation of the individual customer in the effectiveness of any form of provision. The importance of job search activity, of working with employers and the state of the labour markets and the nature of jobs available is highlighted also. The evidence presented in the review could be used to inform decisions about the appropriate type of provision to suit customers and local labour markets in a context of a more decentralised approach to the delivery of interventions.

Paper

The research report is available here [pdf].

Presentation and comment

View Anne Green's presentation here [Powerpoint].

View Genevieve Knight-Hierro's comment here [Powerpoint].

Further information

Please contact Stefan Speckesser.