New Deal for Disabled People extensions : examining the role and operation of new Job Brokers

The New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) is the major employment programme available to people claiming incapacity-related benefits, and is an important part of the Government’s welfare to work strategy. NDDP provides a national network of Job Brokers to help people with health conditions and disabilities move into sustained employment. This report presents findings from the third wave of qualitative research conducted in 2005. It forms part of a comprehensive evaluation of the programme and builds upon two previous waves of qualitative research designed to explore the organisation, operation and impacts of the Job Broker service from the perspective of key stakeholders. In particular, this third wave aimed to explore why Job Brokers’ performance can vary. The research involved five case study areas, which were purposively selected to include both a new and an existing Job Broker, a mixture of different regions and both urban and rural areas. Interviews were conducted with Job Broker managers, local Jobcentre Plus managers and staff and Contract Managers.