Provider-led Pathways: early implementation study

Researchers: Roy Sainsbury, Anne Corden, Jacqueline Davidson, Annie Irvine, Katharine Nice, in collaboration with the Policy Studies Institute and National Centre for Social Research

Funder: Department for Work and Pensions

Duration: March 2008 - April 2009

Background

From 2003 until 2007 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) piloted its Pathways to Work programme aimed at helping recipients of Incapacity Benefit move towards and into work. In 2007 it was announced by DWP that Pathways would be extended to the whole country in a national roll out to be completed by the autumn of 2008. In the pilot areas Pathways was delivered by Jobcentre Plus. However in the new areas covered by the roll out contracts were being let to external organisations in the private and voluntary sectors to provide Pathways services. This was a major policy innovation that is now known as Provider-led Pathways.

DWP contracted SPRU (in collaboration with the Policy Studies Institute and National Centre for Social Research) to conduct research into the early implementation of Provider-led Pathways to provide feedback to inform further policy development and implementation plans.

Methodology

The project was qualitative and included individual and group interviews with:

Incapacity Benefit claimants
Frontline and management staff in external provider organisations
Personal advisers, Pathways managers and contract managers in Jobcentre Plus.

Publications

2010

Market efficiency? Experiences and views from the early implementation of Provider-led Pathways to Work
Weston, K. and Davidson, J., Social Policy in Times of Change, Social Policy Association Annual Conference, University of Lincoln, 5-7 July 2010.

2009

Provider-led Pathways: Experiences and views of early implementation, 2009
Nice, K., Davidson, J. and Sainsbury, R., Department for Work and Pensions Research Report, No. 595.

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