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Peer support for employment: a review of the evidence
- Authors:
- McENHILL Libby, STEADMAN Karen, BAJOREK Zofia
- Publisher:
- The Work Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 30
- Place of publication:
- London
Reviews the evidence from eleven academic studies to explore how, and if, peer support is effective in supporting employment outcomes for people with long term health conditions and disabilities. The studies identified included support group-based peer support, one-on-one mentoring models and a work-based model, where peer support was offered by a peer adviser trained to provide support to colleagues. The review highlights elements of successful peer support programmes for employment. Direct outcomes considered in the studies include improved job retention, reduced sick leave, achieving a new job. Other outcomes included changes in participants; confidence, self-esteem and social skills. The review also identifies gaps in the existing research which include the relationship between direct and indirect employment outcomes and the costs of providing peer support versus the benefits. The paper concludes that although the evidence is at an early stage of development, it suggests that peer support can be a useful tool in achieving a range of employment outcomes - such as moving into work, returning to work after sick leave, and retaining a job - for people with a wide range of health conditions. (Edited publisher abstract)
Is welfare to work, working well? Improving employment rates for people with disabilities and long-term conditions
- Authors:
- DUDLEY Cicely, McENHILL Libby, STEADMAN Karen
- Publisher:
- The Work Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 48
- Place of publication:
- London
This report reflects how effective current welfare-to-work provision is in supports people with disabilities and long term condition to find work and highlights how support might be improved in its next iteration, e.g. through the proposed ‘Work and Health Programme’. The report provides an overview of the current position in the labour market of people with long-term health conditions, identifies indicators of disadvantage and barriers to employment, looks at the health, social and economic benefits of employment, and looks at 'what works' for supporting people with long term conditions into work. Chapter three discusses current national and local initiatives, and looks at where devolution and decentralisation has offered opportunities for local flexibility and innovation. Chapter four identifies challenges within the current system and suggests ways of overcoming these, based on the findings of an evidence review and conversations experts. The report concludes with a series of recommendations around four different areas of policy to improve the government’s provision of back to work support for people with long-term health conditions. The recommendations cover: the assessment process and Jobcentre Plus; welfare-to-work commissioning and payments; improving specialist employment support; and supporting and benefiting from local innovation. (Edited publisher abstract)