Research and analysis

Work Programme evaluation: participant experience

This research is part of a comprehensive evaluation of the Work Programme, to provide an independent assessment of delivery and performance.

Documents

Work Programme evaluation: the participant experience report

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Details

This report brings together and summarises the main evidence from the different strands of the Work Programme evaluation about the experience of participants.

The evaluation tracks the Work Programme over several years from its introduction in 2011. This report notes changes in participants’ experiences and perceptions of the programme during this period. These reflect changes in how the programme operates as it beds down over time and changes in the economic climate in which it is operating. However, the later data in the report are more likely to represent a picture of the programme as it settles down into a steady state of operation.

DWP will use the results from this report in the continuous improvement of the Work Programme and the design of any future contracts.

The preface notes at the start of the report give an update of DWP’s response to the research findings.

Other reports in this series

Work Programme evaluation: findings from the first phase of qualitative research on programme delivery

Work Programme evaluation: procurement, supply chains and implementation of the commissioning model

Work Programme evaluation: operation of the commissioning model, finance and programme delivery

Work Programme evaluation: ‘day one mandation’ of prison leavers

Work Programme statistics

We publish the official Work Programme statistics, including data on referrals, attachments and job outcomes, in the Work Programme statistics series.

Published 18 December 2014