Background

As part of the Government's policy to help people who have health conditions remain in, or return to, work a new initiative was set up to place employment advisers into GP surgeries.

The pilot started in February 2006 and covered six areas of Great Britain. Under the pilot arrangements people of working age visiting a GP surgery (or medical centre) were offered advice by an employment adviser from Jobcentre Plus (to be known as 'Pathways Support Advisers'). In some areas the advisers worked alongside a health practitioner seconded from the NHS. Contact was through self-referral or referral from a GP, other practice worker, or externally via a health worker in, for example a community mental health team or local NHS pain clinic. The pilot was open to all working age patients but particularly appropriate for people receiving Statutory Sick Pay or Incapacity Benefit.

Methodology

Evaluation of the initiative in two of the pilot sites has comprised three components:

• Site visits :

  • These were to familiarise research staff with the implementation of the pilots in each location, to identify differences in the ways it is being delivered across sites, and to establish contacts and working relationships with the staff involved. These visits were completed in August 2006.

• Survey of users :

  • 300 people who made contact with an Adviser were interviewed between one and two months after contact. In the interview information was collected on people’s:
    • route to the Employment Adviser
    • experience of contact
    • outcome of contact
    • subsequent follow up action
    • usefulness of follow up action
    • employment plans and aspirations
    • current barriers to work

  The first interviews took place in October 2006 and January 2007.

  • Qualitative follow-up of survey participants:
    45 survey participants were recontacted in July/August 2007. The aim was to generate detailed qualitative data on the following:
    • pathways towards work since the last interview
    • use of Jobcentre Plus and other services
    • usefulness of those services
    • current barriers
    • barriers that have been overcome
    • the contribution made by the Employment Advisers towards employment.

• In depth interviews with key actors:

  • Interviews were carried out with GPs, Employment Advisers, practice managers, practice nurses and other staff about the operation of the pilot service in late 2006. Follow-up interviews with GPs were carried out in October/November 2007.

Publications

Show Abstract...

2008

The Pathways Advisory Service: Placing employment advisers in GP surgeries, 2008
Sainsbury, R., Nice, K., Nevill, C., Wood, M., Dixon, J. and Mitchell, M., Department for Work and Pensions Research Report, No. 494. The Pathways Advisory Service: Placing employment advisers in GP surgeries, 2008
Sainsbury, R., Nice, K., Nevill, C., Wood, M., Dixon, J. and Mitchell, M., Department for Work and Pensions Research Summary, 494, Corporate Document Services.

If you require further information about the project, please contact Roy Sainsbury