Evaluation of the Work Programme

Researchers: Roy Sainsbury, Anne Corden, Jacqueline Davidson, Katharine Weston in collaboration with Institute for Employment Studies, National Institute of Social and Economic Research, Centre for Social and Economic Inclusion and GfK NOP

Funder: Department for Work and Pensions

Duration: December 2011 to December 2014

The Work Programme is the Coalition Government’s flagship welfare to work programme for benefit claimants replacing previous programmes such as Flexible New Deal and Pathways to Work. It was implemented in Summer 2011. Distinctive features of the Work Programme include contracting out delivery to prime contractors in the private and third sectors and an innovative ‘Payment by Results’ funding model.

A consortium of research organisations, including SPRU, will be evaluating the Work Programme over a period of three years. The evaluation will comprise a number of complementary strands:

• a ‘commissioning strand’ to investigate how the novel method of commissioning services affects the provider market and the decision making of the Work Programme providers
• a ‘provider strand’ to explore how providers deliver their services in their local labour markets
• a ‘claimant strand’ to explore the end-to-end experience of the Work Programme from initial recruitment to (hopefully) sustained employment.

A range of research methods will be employed including surveys, analysis of management information, in-depth qualitative studies and documentary analysis. Data collection will commence in early 2012.

Policy and practice aims

The evaluation package will test the success of the Work Programme as a novel method of delivering welfare to work services. Findings will be used to inform the evolution of the Work Programme, as it progresses, by generating lessons about what works, for whom and in what circumstances. The findings will be used by other government departments to inform decisions about the commissioning of other public services beyond welfare to work.

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