Title
Contents
Acknowledgements 7
The Authors 8
Summary 9
1. Introduction 14
1.1 Background 14
1.2 Research aims 15
1.3 Our approach 16
1.4 Core evaluation of Access to Work 17
1.4.1 Sample selection and fieldwork 19
1.5 Policy and operating context 20
1.6 Structure of report 21
2. Marketing and awareness of Access to Work 23
2.1 Finding out about AtW 23
2.1.1 Customers 23
2.1.2 Employers 26
2.2 Sources of information 27
2.2.1 Customers 27
2.2.2 Employers 28
2.3 Increasing awareness 29
2.4 Other stakeholders' views 31
2.4.1 Business Centre staff 31
2.4.2 Jobcentre Plus staff 32
2.4.3 Other views 34
3. Application process 35
3.1 Making the application 35
3.2 Satisfaction with the application process 36
3.3 Problems with the application process 37
3.3.1 The nature of the impairment 37
3.3.2 Forms 38
3.3.3 Self-employment 39
3.3.4 Time 39
3.4 Other views on the application process 41
3.4.1 Business Centre staff 41
3.4.2 Other Stakeholders 42
4. Assessment 44
4.1 Customers' views 44
4.2 Employers' views 48
4.3 Assessors' views 49
4.3.1 The role of assessment providers 49
4.3.2 Costing solutions and value for money 51
4.3.3 Quality and consistency in assessments 52
4.3.4 Problems experienced by assessment providers 53
4.4 Who decides? 54
4.5 Who pays? 55
5. Outcomes 57
5.1 Support received 57
5.2 Satisfaction with support 58
5.3 Problems experienced 59
5.3.1 Inferior solutions 59
5.3.2 Usability of solutions 60
5.3.3 Delays in getting support in place 62
5.3.4 Paperwork 64
5.4 Satisfaction with Business Centres 65
5.5 Employers 66
5.6 Reviews and on-going support 67
6. Impact 71
6.1 Customers' views 71
6.1.1 Gaining employment 72
6.1.2 Retaining employment 73
6.1.3 A level playing field 74
6.1.4 Financial savings 75
6.1.5 Well-being 76
6.2 Employers' views 77
6.2.1 Understanding needs 77
6.2.2 Improving well-being 78
6.2.3 Increasing productivity 78
6.2.4 Improved retention 79
6.2.5 Improved recruitment 79
6.3 Deadweight or additionality? 80
6.3.1 Type of support 81
6.3.2 Sector and size 81
6.3.3 Partiality 83
7. Conclusions 85
7.1 Marketing and awareness 85
7.2 Application process 86
7.3 Assessment 86
7.4 Outcomes 87
7.5 Impact 89
Appendix A - Customer details 92
Table A.1 Customer details 92
Figure 1.1 Planned structure of the core evaluation at a national and regional level 19