Thursday, 15 November 2018

Street-level practice and the co-production of third sector-led employability services

an article by Colin Lindsay (University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK) and Sarah Pearson, Elaine Batty and Will Eadson (Sheffield Hallam University, UK) and Anne Marie Cullen (affiliation unknown) published in Policy & Politics Volume 46 Number 4 (October 2018)

Abstract

Policymakers have promised a personalised approach to improving the employability of disadvantaged groups. The evidence suggests that contracted-out activation programmes in the UK and some other welfare states have instead sometimes delivered a standardised 'work-first' model.

An alternative approach is exemplified in local employability services targeting lone parents in Scotland, led by third sector–public sector partnerships.

Our research on these services suggests a link between programme governance (defined by flexible funding and collaborative partnership working) and effective street-level practice (where caseworkers and users co-produce services to empower parents).

The article concludes by identifying lessons for the coproduction of future employability services.


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