Can Children's Centres Engage Parents in Labour Market-related Activity?

DWP undertook a Pilot to ascertain whether Children's Centres might offer a more effective vehicle to engage parents in labour market related activity, and so move them closer to employment (and ultimately into work). The pilot operated from late 2008 to March 2011, in 30 Children's Centres across 10 Local Authority areas. The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the impact of embedding full-time personal advisers in children centres on parents' take-up of work-focused services, and on their broader views and attitudes towards seeking employment, and to explore the development of partnership working in those centres that have benefitted from an adviser. It consisted of a 2-wave survey, together with area case studies, and qualitative longitudinal research with parents using the centres.

Project details

Client	Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Year	2008
IES contact	Rachel Marangozov
Research partners	GfK NOP Social Research