Work programmes fail to recognise single parents’ needs, study claims

Programmes designed to get people into work do not take into account single parents’ need for affordable childcare

Efforts to get single parents off benefits and into jobs are failing because their needs are “under the radar” of the government’s welfare to work schemes, a study claims.

An assessment of both the Work Programme and Job Centre Plus provision found that although single parents are promised personalised specialist support to help them into employment, in practice they get only limited, generic help that often fails to recognise their need for affordable childcare and flexible working.

Official job outcome statistics show that a year into the work programme, single parents were a third less likely less likely to get a sustainable job compared with other participant groups.

The study, by the Gingerbread charity, says some single parents reported that they felt “pressured by their [Job Centre Plus] advisers towards a rapid return to work largely irrespective of the type of job and how this fitted with their experience, work aims and caring responsibilities.”

There were also concerns that rhetoric around personalised support also failed to match reality on the work programme for long term unemployed claimants. The report states: “The Work Programme as it currently stands is not delivering the employment support that single parents (and other claimants) need to realise their work aspirations.”

Gingerbread chief executive Fiona Weir said: “Securing a stable job with a decent wage is single parents’ best chance of lifting their families out of poverty. But our research shows that the government cannot pretend its promise of personalised, flexible employment support is even close to being delivered.

“Tailored support is the most effective way of helping single parents back to work, and yet high targets and low budgets mean that advisers have neither the time nor resources to deliver this. Significant reform is required if single parents are to be supported into sustainable employment.”

The Gingerbread study interviewed 27 single parents. Although these findings were “illustrative,” they chimed with complaints made by parents to its helpline and matched findings of other research studies, the charity said.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions criticised what it called “sweeping statements” made by the study and said it was too early to judge the work programme. “Work Programme performance is already improving and the payment by results design means it only pays providers to get lone parents into jobs and keep them there.”

He added: “A lone parent on Jobseeker’s Allowance will not be expected to take up a job if appropriate childcare is not available and their availability for work must take their childcare responsibilities into account.”

Kirsty McHugh, Chief Executive of ERSA, which represents work programme providers, said: “This research highlights some serious issues facing lone parents looking to get back to work. Work Programme providers recognise many of the points highlighted in the report, including lack of access to affordable childcare and the need for a smooth handover from Jobcentre Plus.

“As the Work Programme continues, providers are getting ever more effective at helping people back into employment. It is therefore essential that expertise is shared to make the best quality support available to lone parents.”