Local worklessness policy analysis case studies (RR 844)
A study of local worklessness policy analysis and dissemination practice.
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With an increasing emphasis on localisation and the delivery of services through local and multi agency partnerships, there is a danger of fragmentation of provision. The risk is that best practice, analysis and learning from locally implemented provision is not easily shared nationally to enable continual improvement of policies.
The Department for Work and Pensions commissioned the Institute of Employment Research at Warwick University to analyse these issues to inform future policy making and analysis.
The study of Local Worklessness Policy Analysis is based on a case study approach providing insights into experience and practice of local partnerships and bodies in three areas: Greater Manchester, Lewisham and Cornwall. Fieldwork took place in spring 2012. These areas were selected to reflect experience of implementing local initiatives to tackle worklessness in a range of local contexts in terms of rural and urban areas, and differing partnership arrangements and policy context.
The evidence from this analysis has helped inform DWP’s policy thinking around evaluating local initiatives; particularly where we need to support local stakeholders to build their own capability, and the role the department can play in facilitating greater exchange of knowledge and ‘lessons learned’ to local policy makers.
Through recent area initiatives such as Community Budgets, the department has already been working alongside other Whitehall Departments to ensure local areas have greater access to central expertise and analysis to assist with the design of local services, and will continue to offer support where we can.