Title
Contents
Acknowledgements 7
The Authors 8
Abbreviations 9
Summary 10
1 Introduction. 15
1.1 Policy context 15
1.2 Research context 16
2 Methodology 18
2.1 Introduction 18
2.2 Objectives of the research 18
2.3 Study Methodology 19
2.3.1 District visits 19
2.3.2 Observation of Options and Choices Events 20
2.3.3 Evaluation forms 20
2.3.4 Focus groups with presenters 21
2.3.5 Telephone interviews with lone parents attending events 21
2.3.6 Telephone interviews with lone parents not attending events 21
2.3.7 Follow-up visit to districts 21
3 Organisation of events 22
3.1 Introduction 22
3.2 Delivery models 22
3.3 Initial assumptions and expectations 22
3.4 Choice of venues 23
3.5 Choosing the presenters 24
3.6 Inviting lone parents to the events 24
3.7 Engaging employers 27
3.8 Monitoring 30
3.9 Follow-up with non-attendees 31
3.10 Conclusion 31
4 Staff training and preparation 32
4.1 Introduction 32
4.2 Timing 32
4.3 Presentation skills training 33
4.3.1 Improvements to the presentation skills training 34
4.4 Additional sales training 36
4.5 Additional team meetings 36
4.6 Guidance framework 37
4.6.1 Improvements to the guidance 38
4.7 Conclusion 39
5 Delivering the events 41
5.1 Introduction 41
5.2 Meeting and greeting lone parents and information packs 41
5.3 Attendance 42
5.4 Staff at the event 42
5.5 The presentation 43
5.6 Employer presentations 45
5.7 Employment Zone 46
5.8 The one-to-ones 46
5.9 Staff reflections 47
5.10 Conclusion 48
6 Lone parent feedback 50
6.1 Introduction 50
6.2 Evaluation forms 50
6.2.1 Respondent nature and characteristics 50
6.3 Event location and venue 51
6.4 Reasons for attending the event 53
6.5 The presentation 53
6.6 Presentations by others 55
6.7 Understanding of messages 56
6.8 One-to-Ones 59
6.9 Usefulness of the event 59
6.10 Language issues 61
6.11 After the event 61
6.12 Outcomes of the events 62
6.13 Lone parents who declined the invitation to attend an event 63
6.14 Lone parents who accepted an invitation to attend an event but failed to attend 64
6.15 Conclusion 65
7 Recommendations and policy implications 66
7.1 Organisation of events 66
7.2 Staff training and preparation 67
7.3 Delivering the events 67
7.4 Overall conclusion 69
Appendix A Lone parent case studies 70
Appendix B District visit topic guides 73
Appendix C Evaluation form 76
Appendix D Event feedback form responses 79
Appendix E Observation template 86
Appendix F Presenter topic guide 92
Appendix G Customer and staff topic guides 94
Appendix H Telephone follow-up with attendees topic guide 96
Appendix I Telephone topic guide for non-attendees 100
Appendix J Follow-up district visit topic guide 104
Table 3.1 Number of events held by Trailblazer district 30
Table 5.1 Example of parents' transferable skills 44
Table 6.1 Age distribution of lone parents completing evaluation forms 50
Table 6.2 Distribution of lone parents completing evaluation forms by age of youngest child 51
Table 6.3 Responses to statements to test understanding of key messages (n=232) 57
Table 6.4 Usefulness of events (n=232) 60
Figure 2.1 Summary of study methodology 19