Evaluating the effectiveness and implementation of new employment enhancement programmes in an Irish context: A focus on well-being and employability
Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Unemployment is a persistent global \nproblem which has attracted considerable interest \nin recent years from governments, policy makers, researchers and practitioners.\nDuring \nthe last three decades or so, there has been a significant shift in international labour \nmarket policy (and its impleme\nntation) toward activation and active labour market \npolicy to help the unemployed progress more quickly into employment. In Ireland, \npolicy changes in this direction have been more recent, with the implementation of the \nnew Pathways to Work policy (PTWP). \nHowever, long\n-\nterm unemployment (LTU) \nremains high and more work is needed, both nationally and internationally, to identify \nhow best to intervene effectively and appropriately with this vulnerable group. \nThis research \ncomprised three separate\n,\ninter\n-\nrela\nted studies\n,\ndesigned to: (1) critically \nexamine the implementation and perceived effectiveness of the PTWP in Ireland; (2) \nevaluate the effectiveness of a new high support intervention \n(\nwhen compared to \nservices as usual\n)\nin terms of \nits\nimpact on psychol\nogical well\n-\nbeing and related \npsychosocial factors which influence employability; and (3) conduct a small\n-\nscale \nprocess evaluation to explore the implementation aspects and mechanisms underpinning \nthe new intervention and to draw some comparisons, in paral\nlel, with routine PTWP \nservices. \nThe three studies were conducted within a \nmixed\n-\nmethods pragmatic framework and \ncomprised: (1) \nan exploration of the perceptions and views of the PTWP amongst a \nrange of stakeholders (\nN\n=21) using semi\n-\nstructured interviews \nand \nanalysed using a \nconstructivist grounded theory approach; (2) a single\n-\ncentre randomised controlled trial \n(RCT) with a sample of LTU clients (\nN\n=149) who were followed up immediately post\n-\nintervention and six months\nlater to assess changes in primary and secondary outcomes\nand (3) a process evaluation using both semi\n-\nstructured interviews (n = 6) and focus \ngroups (n = 9) and analysed using standard thematic analysis. \nStudy One identified three overarching themes re\nlevant to the effectiveness of the \nPTWP including: (1) ‘the reform agenda’; (2) ‘depersonalisation’: and, (3) the missing \n‘how to’ of implementation. Study Two indicated high levels of psychological distress \nat baseline, as well as findings to suggest that\nboth the intervention and services\n-\nas\n-\nusual had led to improvements over time in well\n-\nbeing and employability, albeit with a \nnumber of more positive effects observed amongst the men who took part in the \nintervention. The process evaluation revealed three \nimportant themes with regard to \nimplementation aspects of the intervention including the important role of: (1) the \npractitioner\n-\nclient relationship; (2) the service setting; and (3) the skill sets of \npractitioners. \nThis study is the first to examine the \nPTWP with regard to psychological well\n-\nbeing and \nemployability outcomes for the LTU. It provides\nsupport for detailing the ‘how to’ of \nimplementation, emphasising the potential added value of well\n-\ndesigned interventions \nboth in terms of mental health and w\nell\n-\nbeing outcomes, and career progression. The \nfindings suggest that practitioners, employment services, policy makers and other \nstakeholders, should recognise the important role of careful, appropriate, and quality\n-\nfocused ALMP interventions in terms of \npromoting increased and sustainable \nemployability, positive mental\n-\nhealth, and improved quality of life for our most \nvulnerable and disadvantaged job seekers.
Author: Nuala Whelan
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2894617897