New Deal for Disabled People: early implementation

This report presents the interim findings of the evaluation of the New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) Personal Adviser Service pilot. The aims of the evaluation are to assess how well the NDDP Personal Adviser Service helps people find, or remain in work, and to advise about what is effective in the programme and what is not. The report draws on research conducted during the first year of the pilot including: depth interviews with clients, Personal Advisers, and employers, a survey of clients and non-participants and labour market studies. Research is ongoing and further findings will be published in the future. The main findings were An active Personal Adviser Service had been established in each pilot area, and much has been achieved. There was evidence that take-up and awareness of the service could be increased. About a third of clients reported a mental health condition as their main health problem, and the same proportion had been out of the labour market for 5 years or more. Clients differ in terms of their motivation and readiness for work. High levels of satisfaction were recorded among clients though not all clients felt they were part of an ongoing programme of action. Clients appreciated the opportunity to discuss their employment prospects with experts, and welcomed the access to training, work experience and other services made available throughout the service. Communications between Personal Advisers were generally good, though sometimes clients felt frustrated when they thought they had received inadequate benefits advice or the options suggested were unsuitable. Employers said they required specialist advice, financial support, in work support and opportunities for work trials from the Personal Adviser Service. There were different views about whether these needs were met and about satisfaction with the service, though those who had contact with it were generally keen to continue to be involved.