In a detailed analysis of research conducted on the involvement of third sector organisations in employment services, the Third Sector Research Centre finds a significant lack of evidence examining the sector’s role, abilities and experiences in this area.
TSRC has embarked upon a four-tier study into this policy area following increasing concerns over the sector’s participation in the government’s £3bn Work Programme. The study aims to provide a useful platform for future research which, the organisation says, is “undoubtedly needed in this area”.
The first stage of research, released yesterday, reviews currently available evidence for third sector involvement in previous and current employment services schemes.
TSRC found that “generally speaking, the third sector’s involvement in employment services has been neglected both in academia and policy circles”. This "dearth of attention" is despite an apparent enthusiasm of the previous government for evidence-based policy which led to a great number of independent evaluations for programmes involving the third sector, the centre advises.
The next stage of research, currently taking place, involves interviews with key local and national stakeholders. Throughout the study three key questions are being asked:
- What is the current role of the third sector in the delivery of employment services, and how has this role changes since 1997?
- What is the perceived distinctiveness and value of third sector provision compared to other sectors, both for other stakeholders and the sector themselves?
- How have third sector prime and subcontractors experienced the delivery of the work programme?
Focus groups with subcontractors, in-depth case studies with a small number of providers will be followed by testing and disseminating finding in national workshops and conferences from Spring this year.
Earlier this week the National Audit Office called for a survey of Work Programme subcontractors to assure that the expected management standards of prime contractors are being met.
