Bambra, C., Whitehead, M. and Hamilton, V. (2005) Does 'welfare-to-work' work? a systematic review of the effectiveness of the UK's 'welfare-to-work' programmes for people with a disability or chronic illness. Social Science and Medicine, 60(9), pp. 1905-1918. (doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.09.002) (PMID:15743642)
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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.09.002
Abstract
Welfare-to-work programmes promoting employment of people with a disability or chronic illness are an expanding aspect of welfare reform in the UK. What evidence is there of impact on employment outcomes? This paper presents a systematic review of the evidence on UK policy initiatives. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were identified: 5399 abstracts were located, from which 16 studies were critically appraised. Overall, each of the five main welfare-to-work strategies operating in the 1990s helped people with disabilities into work, who were previously on benefits. The proportion of participants gaining employment after involvement ranged from 11% to 50%, dependent on characteristics of participants, such as ‘job-readiness’, as well as wider labour market context. As most studies were uncontrolled, it was difficult to determine if the improved employment chances were due to the effectiveness of the welfare-to-work interventions themselves or to external factors. Wider impact, such as uptake of schemes as a proportion of the total target population, was weak. The qualitative components identified barriers and facilitators concerned with effective implementation, to aid design of future initiatives.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Whitehead, Prof M |
| Authors: | Bambra, C., Whitehead, M., and Hamilton, V. |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health |
| Journal Name: | Social Science and Medicine |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 0277-9536 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1873-5347 |
| Published Online: | 17 November 2004 |
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