Empowering lone parents to progress towards employability

LINDSAY, Colin, PEARSON, Sarah, BATTY, Elaine, CULLEN, Anne Marie and EADSON, William (2021). Empowering lone parents to progress towards employability. Journal of Social Policy.

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Official URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of...
Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047279421000283

Abstract

Policymakers in liberal welfare states like the UK have prioritised extending the reach of compulsory activation to target vulnerable jobseeker groups, such as lone parents. However, such interventions – especially when combined with intensified welfare conditionality – appear to have had limited positive effects on lone parents’ employability, while often negatively impacting wellbeing. This article argues that the problem is a disconnect between the complex barriers to employability faced by lone parents (including their need to balance work and caring) and the content of ‘work-first’ activation favoured by successive UK Governments. We report positive findings from in-depth interviews with lone parents and key stakeholders involved in more person-centred, non-compulsory local employability services. Multi-agency service delivery, collaborative governance and a clear role for user voice in programme design were important facilitators of positive experiences. Our analysis points to the need for services that empower lone parents to make choices to progress towards employment while supporting family life.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Political Science & Public Administration; 1605 Policy and Administration; 1607 Social Work; 2203 Philosophy
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047279421000283
SWORD Depositor: Symplectic Elements
Depositing User: Symplectic Elements
Date Deposited: 22 Feb 2021 16:43
Last Modified: 04 May 2021 12:45
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28194

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