4 August 2004 - Publication of DWP research: Evaluation of the Childcare Partnership Manager Role by John Barker, Jane Ireland, Virginia Morrow, Fiona Smith and Valerie Hey of Brunel University
Research published today by the Department for Work and Pensions carried out by Brunel University provides findings on the Childcare Partnership Manager (CPM) Role.
The research involved telephone interviews with all CPMs, and case studies in 10 areas with CPMs, Jobcentre Plus colleagues, and members of external organisations.
Key findings:
Findings from the evaluation are generally very positive. Despite difficulties for some in persuading external partners, and in some cases Jobcentre Plus colleagues, of the importance of their role, CPMs have made constructive links internally and externally, and in most areas are seeing tangible results:
- Increasing childcare information for Jobcentre Plus customers by making links with Children’s Information Services (CIS) and other childcare partners, and feeding information to Jobcentre Plus advisers via aide memoirs, information packs and computer links, and by raising awareness of the CISs with Jobcentre Plus staff.
- Influencing childcare capacity by identifying gaps (in conjunction particularly with NDLP advisers) and working at a strategic level with local childcare partners to incorporate the needs of Jobcentre Plus customers into the development of childcare services in the districts.
- Raising awareness of childcare issues amongst Jobcentre Plus staff, by highlighting the work of the CIS, providing information packs, and discussing with staff the importance of employers’ family-friendly policies.
- Developing the childcare workforce by highlighting Jobcentre Plus customers as a potential source of employees, organising publicity events, and importantly, designing training routeways for the childcare workforce.
- Encouraging childcare employers to advertise vacancies with Jobcentre Plus and monitoring performance against this objective by working directly with providers, with Jobcentre Plus colleagues working in employer marketing, and with other external partners such as the CISs, to obtain vacancy listings. CPMs were also working hard with Jobcentre Plus vacancy teams, as there was some concern about the ability of Jobcentre Plus to adequately manage the vacancies.
- Encouraging employers to recognise childcare needs by raising the issue of family friendly policies with Field Account Managers (FAMs) and working in an advisory capacity to influence employers’ practice; and in some instances, by direct contact with employers.
Both Jobcentre Plus colleagues and external partners have expressed positive feedback on the utility of the role, and the importance of having a central contact for childcare issues. Jobcentre Plus colleagues valued the work of CPMs in taking forward strategic childcare issues, encouraging the use of Jobcentre Plus for filling vacancies, and as a central and informed source of information on childcare issues.
External partners also valued CPMs as a local link to Jobcentre Plus: this was something that CPMs worked hard to build up in their first year, and was a particularly successful facet of the role. External partners were also appreciative of CPMs ability to bring an employment focus in their childcare work, their contribution to developing the local childcare workforce by assisting with vacancy filling and their work in trying to ensure a more joined-up approach to childcare strategy at a local level - reducing the potential for duplication of efforts and adding value to the work done by different organisations.
Key issues influencing the CPM role:
Resources. Many CPMs identified how time constraints, additional roles or duties, large geographical districts and the logistics of working with more than one childcare partnership limited the possible remit of the CPM role.
Steer for the role. Some CPMs felt that the role was not clearly defined enough and would have preferred more signposting of the priorities of the role to enable them to deal with local contexts.
Visibility of CPM role and childcare issues. CPMs have worked hard to inform Jobcentre Plus staff and external partners of their role. However, many CPMs felt that messages regarding the CPM role and its contribution to wider Jobcentre Plus targets and objectives could be reinforced more at a higher level at national tier.
Support and commitment from external partners. Externally, some CPMs experienced disinterest or resistance to working with them in partnership. Most CPMs managed to overcome these issues. The experience revealed that in some instances CPMs needed to overcome negative preconceptions about Jobcentre Plus culture and customers.
Notes for editors
- The report is published on 04 August 2004.
- The authors are John Barker, Jane Ireland, Virginia Morrow, Fiona Smith and Valerie Hey of Brunel University.
- Summaries and the report can be obtained free from DWP Research Management on 0114 209 8275 or at: www.dwp.gov.uk
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