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Empowering Lone Parents to Progress towards Employability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2021

COLIN LINDSAY Open the ORCID record for COLIN LINDSAY [Opens in a new window] ,
SARAH PEARSON ,
ELAINE BATTY ,
ANNE MARIE CULLEN  and
WILL EADSON
COLIN LINDSAY
Affiliation:
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0QU email: colin.lindsay@strath.ac.uk
SARAH PEARSON
Affiliation:
Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB email: s.pearson@shu.ac.uk
ELAINE BATTY
Affiliation:
Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB email: e.batty@shu.ac.uk
ANNE MARIE CULLEN
Affiliation:
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0QU email: anne.cullen@strath.ac.uk
WILL EADSON
Affiliation:
Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB email: w.eadson@shu.ac.uk
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Abstract

Policymakers in liberal welfare states like the UK have prioritised extending the reach of compulsory activation to target vulnerable jobseeker groups, such as lone parents. However, such interventions – especially when combined with intensified welfare conditionality – appear to have had limited positive effects on lone parents’ employability, while often negatively impacting wellbeing. This article argues that the problem is a disconnect between the complex barriers to employability faced by lone parents (including their need to balance work and caring) and the content of ‘work-first’ activation favoured by successive UK Governments. We report positive findings from in-depth interviews with lone parents and key stakeholders involved in more person-centred, non-compulsory local employability services. Multi-agency service delivery, collaborative governance and a clear role for user voice in programme design were important facilitators of positive experiences. Our analysis points to the need for services that empower lone parents to make choices to progress towards employment while supporting family life.

Type
Article
Information
Journal of Social Policy , Volume 51 , Issue 4 , October 2022 , pp. 856 - 875
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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