Moving Parents Towards Employment: Working for Families Fund – Phase 1 Evaluation

1. Moving Parents Towards Employment: Working for Families Fund – Phase 1 Evaluation Professor Ronald McQuaid and Evaluation Team Employment Research Institute Napier University, Edinburgh 23 March 2007 Website: http://www.napier.ac.uk/WFFE

2. Introduction • Who is WFF for? • What is the WFF Evaluation about? • Who participated in WFF? • What happened? • So What? – Conclusions

3. Who is it for? • To assist disadvantaged parents in deprived areas and groups towards, into or within work education, training or employment • People face multiple barriers to progress, especially childcare barriers

4. Target Groups • Parents on low income (maximum Child Tax Credit and WTC) • Lone parents - pre New Deal; entering employment; trying to retain jobs or improve their hours/earnings; and/or going into further and higher education. • Parents with other stresses in the household e.g. disability, mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems.

5. Clients Views

6. What is WFF Evaluation about? • Two year period: 2004-06 • (Plus on-going Phase 2 evaluation) • What has happened? • Does it make a difference? • Helping LAs to improve WFF as it goes along (e.g. ….)

7. Phase 1 covers ten Local Authorities Highland East Ayrshire West Dunbartonshire Inverclyde Dumfries & Galloway Glasgow North Lanarkshire Renfrewshire Dundee City North Ayrshire

8. What Does WFF Do? • Each LA develops its own programme • Works in strategic and operational partnerships • Complementing but not replacing existing services • (Helps) fill gaps in existing provision • Flexible and innovative

9. Local Authorities have: • Based in Economic Development departments • Key Worker Programmes (1 to 1; continuity, holistic) • Projects: • - Themed (e.g. Money advice) • Client Groups (e.g. Parents in Education) • Childcare (e.g. Developing childminders)

10. What Does WFF Do? Example WFF Personal Development Programme Job Centre Plus Careers Service WFF Money Advise Project Training Provider WFF Key Workers WFF Transport Project Specialist Health Services WFF Childcare Subsidy Scheme Childcare Provider WFF Sitter Service

11. Who participated in WFF? • 5,808 clients registered with the Working for Families Fund (WFF) up until 31 March 2006 • 11,929 clients up until 31 December 2006

12. Total Clients Numbers – Phase 1

13. Who are WFF Clients? • 93% Female • 72% Lone Parents • 61% in workless households • 95% with one or more children under 12 years and (48% with a child under 3)

14. Age of Youngest Child in Scotland (Census 2001) compared to among WFF Clients

15. Qualifications (%) compared to Scotland (Census 2001)

16. Clients Views

17. What did Clients Do before WFF? Main Economic Activity at Point of Registration

18. Barriers to getting work Caring Responsibilities – caring for children or adults and lack of or cost of childcare services Opportunities and Skills – lack of appropriate jobs (e.g. pay or type of work), discrimination by employers, lack of qualifications, skills, experience or confidence. Other Issues – benefits issues, debt/money problems, housing problems, learning disabilities, literacy/numeracy difficulties, alcohol/substance abuse, criminal/police record, physical disability, physical or mental health issues. Transport – lack of private and public transport, cost of public transport and Inability to drive.

19. % of Clients indicating one of these as a barrier to employment etc.

20. Clients Views

21. What happened? Over £12 million spent

22. Types of outcomes: • ‘Hard’ Outcomes/Transitions - the person went into employment, education, training, improved their job etc. Main focus. • Soft Outcomes: Intermediate Activities - activities such as participating in a substantial non-accredited short course, that contributes towards progress towards employment etc. • Soft Outcomes: Improved Employability - including distance travelled.

23. The WFF Evaluation (2004-2006) Outcomes Main Outcome for All Clients Registered with WFF

24. The WFF Evaluation (2004-2006) Outcomes % of Clients by ‘Hard’ Transition

25. Outcomes to December 2006 • ‘Hard’ Outcomes - 5,094 (43%) (and who got them) • Intermediate Activities - 418 (4%) • Registered in last 6 months - 2,545 (21%)

26. Other Considerations • Deadweight (they would have got work etc. anyway)? • Are WFF clients displacing others in work etc.? • What are the effects on childcare provision (prices, availability). Need good local monitoring? • Are there other positive and negative impacts? • WFF is focusing on less well off in Scotland, but within the WFF client groups who is achieving less?

27. So What? – Conclusions • WFF has made a worthwhile impact on a significant number of peoples’ lives • Shown short-term gains, but long-term ones may be greater • Initial cost-benefit analysis is fairly positive (need longer period in operation) • Some Key Success Factors • Clear focus on employment • Key Worker and holistic approaches • Complementing existing services • Working in Partnership • Continues to be about learning for everyone

28. Clients Views

29. Working for Families Fund – Phase 1 Evaluation Employment Research Institute Napier University Edinburgh EH14 1DJ WFF@NAPIER.AC.UK Website: http://www.napier.ac.uk/WFFE