The impact of learning on employability

The Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion (Inclusion), the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) and the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) were commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in 2007 to undertake a survey on the impact of learning on employability. This report presents the key findings of the survey. The survey investigated the impact and benefits of general learning in further education (FE) on: the economic status of workless individuals - their progression into work and off benefits; and the personal impact of learning - in terms of improving skills and increasing confidence. Approximately 10,000 learners were interviewed by telephone from June to August 2007. They had all undertaken an FE course which completed in 2005-06, and all were eligible for fee remission due to receipt of workless benefits. Ten per cent of the sample were working less than 16 hours a week when their course started, and all were aged between 20 and 55. The key findings were that nearly four in 10 (38 per cent) of learners who were claiming workless benefits at the start of their FE course have worked since finishing their learning and one in three learners have moved into work and are no longer claiming workless benefits. Employment outcomes are less positive for learners with multiple disadvantages. However, those with multiple disadvantages do benefit from a positive impact of learning in terms of improved communication skills, improved employability skills and increased confidence

What are the beliefs and perceptions of practice nurses' influence about the uptake of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine? An integrative literature review

Aim. To ascertain the beliefs and perceptions of practice nurses’ influence about the uptake of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine. Background. Immunisation decision making for parents is a complex process. Principle health professionals involved in immunisation programmes are health visitors, general practitioners and practice nurses. There is evidence that health visitors and general practitioners influence parental immunisation decision making. However, there is a lack of evidence about the influence of the practice nurse despite their well-documented role in immunisation. Design. Integrative Literature Review Data sources. A systematic search of electronic databases, including: CINAHL; Medline; PubMed; Google Scholar; Science Direct and Scopus from February 1998 - April 2017. Hand searching and reviewing of secondary references were also undertaken. Review methods. Two reviewers independently screened records on title and abstract. Studies where the beliefs and perceptions of practice nurses regarding the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine were explored and were published in English were included. The data were analysed using the integrative review processes. Results. Twelve studies were included; these studies were principally descriptive and were of variable methodological quality. Four themes were identified: parental immunisation influencing factors; practice nurse characteristics; information & communication and personal views and concerns. While this review provides an excellent baseline for this information, more recent research conducted in the current policy environment is urgently needed to determine if these views persist. Conclusion. Immunisation training and annual updates are essential for practice nurses to keep abreast with the evidence base underpinning national immunisation programmes

Using a realist approach to evaluate smoking cessation interventions targeting pregnant women and young people

Background This paper describes a study protocol designed to evaluate a programme of smoking cessation interventions targeting pregnant women and young people living in urban and rural locations in Northeast Scotland. The study design was developed on so-called 'realist' evaluation principles, which are concerned with the implementation of interventions as well as their outcomes. Methods/design A two-phased study was designed based on the Theory of Change (TOC) using mixed methods to assess both process and outcome factors. The study was designed with input from the relevant stakeholders. The mixed-methods approach consists of semi-structured interviews with planners, service providers, service users and non-users. These qualitative interviews will be analysed using a thematic framework approach. The quantitative element of the study will include the analysis of routinely collected data and specific project monitoring data, such as data on service engagement, service use, quit rates and changes in smoking status. Discussion The process of involving key stakeholders was conducted using logic modelling and TOC tools. Engaging stakeholders, including those responsible for funding, developing and delivering, and those intended to benefit from interventions aimed at them, in their evaluation design, are considered by many to increase the validity and rigour of the subsequent evidence generated. This study is intended to determine not only the components and processes, but also the possible effectiveness of this set of health interventions, and contribute to the evidence base about smoking cessation interventions aimed at priority groups in Scotland. It is also anticipated that this study will contribute to the ongoing debate about the role and challenges of 'realist' evaluation approaches in general, and the utility of logic modelling and TOC approaches in particular, for evaluation of complex health interventions

Heterogeneity in drinking practices in England and Wales and its association with violent behaviour: a latent class analysis

Background: Crude single-item consumption metrics, such as ‘binge drinking’ measures, mask the complexity and heterogeneity in young people’s drinking; thus limiting our understanding of young people’s drinking patterns as well as how alcohol drinking is associated with violent outcomes. Objectives: The current study employed a range of consumption and contextual indicators to explore heterogeneity in young people’s (16-29 years) drinking practices, giving due consideration to their social nature. It also assessed to what extent heterogeneity in drinking practices was associated with violent outcomes. Methods: Employing data from the 2006 Offending Crime and Justice Survey, three measures of alcohol consumption and nine drinking context indicators were utilised within latent class analysis to create typologies of drinking practices amongst current drinkers in England and Wales (n=2,711) and examine their association with violent outcomes. The validity of the typologies was also assessed on age, sex and socio-economic status. Results: Three discernible drinking profiles were identified: ‘regular social drinkers’ (48%), ‘regular pub binge drinkers’ (32%), and ‘moderate drinkers’ (20%). The ‘regular pub binge drinkers’ were found to be more than twice as likely to commit an assault offence (odds ratio = 2.8 95% CI [1.3, 6.2]) when compared to ‘moderate drinkers’. Interaction analyses demonstrated a stronger risk of violence among ‘regular social drinkers’ of low socio-economic status. Conclusions: Interventions aimed at reducing alcohol-related violence ought to give due consideration to the social context of drinking, the levels of consumption, as well as the socio-economic characteristics of the drinker

Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey, 2006

<p>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</p>The <i>Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey</i> (SALSUS) is the primary source of data on substance using behaviour among young people in Scotland. SALSUS comprises a long running series of national surveys of young people's substance use. From 1982 to 2000 these surveys were carried out jointly in Scotland and England to provide national information on smoking behaviour (from 1982), drinking behaviour (from 1990) and drug use (from 1998). In 2002, Scotland introduced its own (SALSUS) survey which provides national policy makers with vital information to help develop and evaluate policies to reduce the prevalence of substance use in Scotland and to monitor progress towards achieving Scottish Government targets. Every four years the survey also provides information on substance use for local areas. These data are used to help inform local service planning, for example, to develop Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) strategic and delivery plans and to monitor progress towards achieving a number of the ADP core indicators. All SALSUS datasets are available via the UK Data Archive.<br> <br> Further information about the series is available from the NHS National Services Scotland Information Services Division <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Public-Health/SALSUS" title="SALSUS">SALSUS</a> webpage.<br> <br> August 2013: Variables excls1-4, covering school exclusions in years 1-4 were removed from the 2002, 2004 and 2006 data at the request of the NHS National Services Scotland's Caldicott Guardian.<br> <br>The 2006 SALSUS survey broadly replicates the design of the previous surveys in 2002 and 2004, where S2 and S4 pupils were asked to complete a paper questionnaire during class time. Pupils were on average 13 years old in S2 and 15 years old in S4. Therefore in the context of the reports and data, those in S2 are referred to as '13 year olds' and those in S4, '15 year olds'.<br> <br> The questionnaire asked pupils about smoking, drinking and drug use as well as various lifestyle factors, including attitudes towards school. The 2006 survey, like that of 2002, was conducted on a large enough scale to provide local as well as national data. See documentation for further details.<br> <br><B>Main Topics</B>:<br>Topics covered in the 2006 survey include:<ul><li>patterns of smoking, drinking and drugs use</li><li>availability of tobacco, drugs and alcohol</li><li>family attitudes to smoking and alcohol</li><li>family and friends' smoking behaviour</li><li>truancy and exclusion from school</li><li>leisure activities</li></ul

British Crime Survey, 2003-2004

<p>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</p><i>Background</i>:<br> The <i>Crime Survey for England and Wales</i> (CSEW), previously known as the <i>British Crime Survey</i> (BCS), has been in existence since 1981. The survey traditionally asks a sole randomly selected adult, in a random sample of households, details pertaining to any instances where they, or the household, has been a victim of a crime in the previous 12 months. These are recorded in the victim form data file (VF). A wide range of questions are then asked covering demographics and crime-related subjects such as attitudes to the police and the criminal justice system (CJS). Most of the questionnaire is completed in a face-to-face interview in the respondent's home; these variables are contained within the non-victim form (NVF) data file. Since 2009, the survey has been extended to children aged 10-15 years old; one resident of that age range has also been selected at random from the household and asked about incidents where they have been a victim of crime, and other related topics. The first set of children's data, covering January-December 2009, had experimental status, and is held separately under SN 6601. From 2009-2010, the children's data cover the same period as the adult data and are included with the main dataset. Further information may be found on the ONS <a href="http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/get-involved/taking-part-in-a-survey/information-for-households/a-to-z-of-household-and-individual-surveys/crime-survey-for-england---wales/index.html" title="Crime Survey for England and Wales">Crime Survey for England and Wales</a> webpage and for the previous BCS, from the GOV.UK <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-crime-survey-methodology" title="BCS Methodology">BCS Methodology</a> webpage.<br> <br> <i>Self-completion data</i><br> A series of questions on drinking behaviour, drug use, self-offending, gangs and personal security, and intimate personal violence (IPV) (including stalking and sexual victimisation) are administered to adults via a self-completion module which the respondent completes on a laptop computer. Children aged 10-15 years also complete a separate self-completion questionnaire. The questions are contained within the main questionnaire documents, but the data are not available with the main survey; they are available only under Special Licence/Secure Access conditions. See Access section for further details.<br> <br> <i>Geographic variables</i>:<br> From 2008-2009, low-level geographic variables are available under Special Licence conditions to match to the survey/ From 2011-2012 onwards, further lower-level geographic variables are also available, subject to Secure Access conditions.<br> <br> <i>History</i>:<br> Up to 2001, the survey was conducted biennially. From April 2001, interviewing was carried out continually and reported on in financial year cycles and the crime reference period was altered to accommodate this change. The core sample size has increased from around 11,000 in the earlier cycles to over 46,000 up until 2011/12 where it was then reduced to 35,000. Following the National Statistician's Review of Crime Statistics in June 2011 the collation and publication of Crime Statistics moved to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) from 1st April 2012, and the survey changed its name to the <i>Crime Survey for England and Wales</i> (CSEW) accordingly. <br> <br> <i>Scottish data</i>:<br> The 1982 and 1988 BCS waves were also conducted in Scotland. The England and Wales data for 1982 and 1988 are held at the UKDA under SNs 1869 and 2706, but the Scottish data for these studies are held separately under SNs 4368 and 4599. Since 1993, separate <i>Scottish Crime and Justice Surveys</i> have been conducted, and these are held under GN 33330.<br> <br>For the sixth edition of the study (October 2007), the non-white boost sample data files were replaced with updated versions containing previously unavailable interviewer assessment variables.<br><B>Main Topics</B>:<br>The dataset includes information from the non-victim form questionnaire and the victim form questionnaire, and modules on mobile phone theft and stolen goods (covering the purchasing and receiving of stolen goods).<br> <br> The non-victim form questionnaire gathers respondent-level data: topics covered include fear of crime, perception of antisocial behaviour, victimisation screener questions, performance of the criminal justice system (CJS), experiences of the police, attitudes to the CJS, crime prevention and security, victims and the CJS, and demographic information.<br> <br> The victim form contains offence-level data: up to six different incidents are asked about for each respondent. Each incident constitutes a separate victim form and can be matched back to the respondent-level data through the variable ROWLABEL. Topics covered include the nature and circumstances of the incident, details of offenders, security measures, costs, emotional reactions, contact with the CJS and outcomes where known.<br> <br> Self-completion questionnaire modules covering drug use, drinking behaviour and stolen goods were also included in the 2003-2004 survey. These modules are subject to Special Licence access - see SN 7326, 7327 and 7328

Childcare and Early Years Provision: Providers' Survey, 2008

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The introduction of the National Childcare Strategy in 1998 marked a radical shift in government policy and for the first time put childcare provision firmly on the political map. Since then a wide range of childcare initiatives and funding streams have been introduced, and hence there is a need for regular data to aid the evaluation of recent policy interventions in these areas. The Childcare and Early Years Provision survey series is divided into two survey strands: the Parents’ Survey and the Providers’ Survey. The Parents’ Survey provides data on parents’ take-up, views and experiences of childcare. Families in England are randomly selected from the Child Benefit Records and all parents had children aged 0-14 years. They are asked about their use and experiences of childcare for all children in the family and to give more detailed information about childcare for a particular child (selected at random where there is more than one child in the family). The current Parents' Survey series replaces two previous surveys: the Survey of Parents of Three and Four-Year-Old Children and Their Use of Early Years Services (conducted between 1997 and 2002) and Parents' Demand for Childcare,&nbsp;conducted in 1999 and 2001 (see SNs 4380 and 4970 respectively). The Providers' Survey monitors the characteristics and development of childcare and early years providers and the workforce in England. Information was collected on the number and characteristics of providers, the characteristics of the children enrolled, workforce composition, qualifications and training, recruitment and retention, and business operation. The 2016 survey underwent an extensive redesign, which means findings are not comparable with previous surveys.The 2020 survey was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Further information is available on the GOV.UK&nbsp;Childcare and Early Years Statistics webpage.Special licence dataAdditional, more detailed variables from the Providers' Survey in 2018, 2019 and 2021 are available under Special Licence (SL). The SL data have more restrictive access conditions than those made available under the standard End User Licence (EUL) agreement. Prospective users of the SL version will need to complete an extra application form and demonstrate to the data owners exactly why they need access to the additional variables in order to get permission to use that version. Users are advised to consult the EUL version first and the list of variables available under each study before applying.The Childcare and Early Years Provision: Providers’ Survey, 2008 collects information on the number and characteristics of providers, the characteristics of the children enrolled, workforce composition, qualifications and training, recruitment and retention, and business operation. The 2008 survey covers both childcare (full day care, sessional, out-of-school, childminders and children’s centres), and early years settings in maintained schools (nursery schools, primary schools with nursery and reception classes and primary schools with reception but no nursery classes).Main Topics:The datasets contain information on childcare and early years providers, including data on:provider characteristics (ownership, opening times, length of operation, free early education sessions)number of places and children attending (number of places, ages, ethnicity, vacancies)staff characteristics (number of staff, demographics of paid staff, pay, hours) qualifications (qualifications held and working towards by paid staff) training (current level of training, training plans and budgets) recruitment and retention (level of recruitment, retention rates, vacancies)income (income, fees, funding, childcare vouchers, tax credits, business performance) The provider level datasets for childcare providers and early years providers contain the responses of senior managers at these settings, with one row of data per setting. The staff level datasets for childcare providers and early years providers contain information on individual members of staff linked to information about the setting that they work in and there is one row of data per staff member. The childminders dataset contains the responses of childminders and these individuals work alone therefore there is only one dataset for this group of providers

Childcare and Early Years Provision: Providers' Survey, 2009

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The introduction of the National Childcare Strategy in 1998 marked a radical shift in government policy and for the first time put childcare provision firmly on the political map. Since then a wide range of childcare initiatives and funding streams have been introduced, and hence there is a need for regular data to aid the evaluation of recent policy interventions in these areas. The Childcare and Early Years Provision survey series is divided into two survey strands: the Parents’ Survey and the Providers’ Survey. The Parents’ Survey provides data on parents’ take-up, views and experiences of childcare. Families in England are randomly selected from the Child Benefit Records and all parents had children aged 0-14 years. They are asked about their use and experiences of childcare for all children in the family and to give more detailed information about childcare for a particular child (selected at random where there is more than one child in the family). The current Parents' Survey series replaces two previous surveys: the Survey of Parents of Three and Four-Year-Old Children and Their Use of Early Years Services (conducted between 1997 and 2002) and Parents' Demand for Childcare,&nbsp;conducted in 1999 and 2001 (see SNs 4380 and 4970 respectively). The Providers' Survey monitors the characteristics and development of childcare and early years providers and the workforce in England. Information was collected on the number and characteristics of providers, the characteristics of the children enrolled, workforce composition, qualifications and training, recruitment and retention, and business operation. The 2016 survey underwent an extensive redesign, which means findings are not comparable with previous surveys.The 2020 survey was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Further information is available on the GOV.UK&nbsp;Childcare and Early Years Statistics webpage.Special licence dataAdditional, more detailed variables from the Providers' Survey in 2018, 2019 and 2021 are available under Special Licence (SL). The SL data have more restrictive access conditions than those made available under the standard End User Licence (EUL) agreement. Prospective users of the SL version will need to complete an extra application form and demonstrate to the data owners exactly why they need access to the additional variables in order to get permission to use that version. Users are advised to consult the EUL version first and the list of variables available under each study before applying.The Childcare and Early Years Provision: Providers’ Survey, 2009 collects information on the number and characteristics of providers, the characteristics of the children enrolled, workforce composition, qualifications and training, recruitment and retention, and business operation. The 2009 survey covers both childcare (full day care, sessional care, out-of-school care, childminders and children’s centres), and early years settings in maintained schools (nursery schools, primary schools with nursery and reception classes and primary schools with reception but no nursery classes).Main Topics:The datasets contain information on childcare and early years providers, including data on:provider characteristics (ownership, opening times, length of operation, free early education sessions)number of places and children attending (number of places, ages, ethnicity, vacancies)staff characteristics (number of staff, demographics of paid staff, pay, hours) qualifications (qualifications held and working towards by paid staff) training (current level of training, training plans and budgets) recruitment and retention (level of recruitment, retention rates, vacancies)income (income, fees, funding, childcare vouchers, tax credits, business performance) The provider level datasets for childcare providers and early years providers contain the responses of senior managers at these settings, with one row of data per setting. The staff level datasets for childcare providers and early years providers contain information on individual members of staff linked to information about the setting that they work in and there is one row of data per staff member. The childminders dataset contains the responses of childminders and these individuals work alone therefore there is only one dataset for this group of providers

British Crime Survey, 2009-2010

<p>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</p><i>Background</i>:<br> The <i>Crime Survey for England and Wales</i> (CSEW), previously known as the <i>British Crime Survey</i> (BCS), has been in existence since 1981. The survey traditionally asks a sole randomly selected adult, in a random sample of households, details pertaining to any instances where they, or the household, has been a victim of a crime in the previous 12 months. These are recorded in the victim form data file (VF). A wide range of questions are then asked covering demographics and crime-related subjects such as attitudes to the police and the criminal justice system (CJS). Most of the questionnaire is completed in a face-to-face interview in the respondent's home; these variables are contained within the non-victim form (NVF) data file. Since 2009, the survey has been extended to children aged 10-15 years old; one resident of that age range has also been selected at random from the household and asked about incidents where they have been a victim of crime, and other related topics. The first set of children's data, covering January-December 2009, had experimental status, and is held separately under SN 6601. From 2009-2010, the children's data cover the same period as the adult data and are included with the main dataset. Further information may be found on the ONS <a href="http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/get-involved/taking-part-in-a-survey/information-for-households/a-to-z-of-household-and-individual-surveys/crime-survey-for-england---wales/index.html" title="Crime Survey for England and Wales">Crime Survey for England and Wales</a> webpage and for the previous BCS, from the GOV.UK <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-crime-survey-methodology" title="BCS Methodology">BCS Methodology</a> webpage.<br> <br> <i>Self-completion data</i><br> A series of questions on drinking behaviour, drug use, self-offending, gangs and personal security, and intimate personal violence (IPV) (including stalking and sexual victimisation) are administered to adults via a self-completion module which the respondent completes on a laptop computer. Children aged 10-15 years also complete a separate self-completion questionnaire. The questions are contained within the main questionnaire documents, but the data are not available with the main survey; they are available only under Special Licence/Secure Access conditions. See Access section for further details.<br> <br> <i>Geographic variables</i>:<br> From 2008-2009, low-level geographic variables are available under Special Licence conditions to match to the survey/ From 2011-2012 onwards, further lower-level geographic variables are also available, subject to Secure Access conditions.<br> <br> <i>History</i>:<br> Up to 2001, the survey was conducted biennially. From April 2001, interviewing was carried out continually and reported on in financial year cycles and the crime reference period was altered to accommodate this change. The core sample size has increased from around 11,000 in the earlier cycles to over 46,000 up until 2011/12 where it was then reduced to 35,000. Following the National Statistician's Review of Crime Statistics in June 2011 the collation and publication of Crime Statistics moved to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) from 1st April 2012, and the survey changed its name to the <i>Crime Survey for England and Wales</i> (CSEW) accordingly. <br> <br> <i>Scottish data</i>:<br> The 1982 and 1988 BCS waves were also conducted in Scotland. The England and Wales data for 1982 and 1988 are held at the UKDA under SNs 1869 and 2706, but the Scottish data for these studies are held separately under SNs 4368 and 4599. Since 1993, separate <i>Scottish Crime and Justice Surveys</i> have been conducted, and these are held under GN 33330.<br> <br><i>Variable 'PFA' (Police Force Area):</i><br> From 2008-2009 onwards, the BCS variable 'PFA' (Police Force Area) is now only available within the associated dataset SN 6935, <i>British Crime Survey, 2009-2010: Special Licence Access, Low-Level Geographic Data</i>, which is subject to restrictive access conditions; see 'Access' section below.<br> <br> <i>2009-2010 self-completion modules:</i><br> Data from the three adult self-completion modules on drinking behaviour, drug use, and interpersonal violence (comprising the module on domestic violence, sexual victimisation and stalking), and the children's self-completion module, are held separately under SNs 6628, 6629, 6630 and 6980 respectively. These studies are subject to restrictive Special Licence access conditions; see 'Access' section below.<br> <br> <i>User Guide:</i><br> The BCS 2009-2010 user guide is not currently available via the Documentation table below, but is contained within the study zip files available for registered users to download with the data.<br> <br> For the second edition (March 2012), non-victim form (NVF) and victim form (VF) data files for children aged 10-15 years, covering April 2009-March 2010, were added to the study, which previously included only the adult NVF and VF data. The documentation remains unchanged, as there is no separate documentation for the children's data. However, users should note that further data from the first year of children's inclusion in the BCS are also available under SN 6601; those data cover January-December 2009. The documentation from SN 6601 may therefore be useful for this study.<br> <br><B>Main Topics</B>:<br><i>Adult data</i><br> The adult data includes information from two sections of the survey, the non-victim form (NVF) and the victim form (VF).<br> <br> The NVF gathers respondent-level data: topics covered include perceptions of crime; victimisation screener questions; performance of the CJS; mobile phone, second home and bicycle crime; experiences of the police; attitudes to the CJS; crime prevention and security; ad hoc crime topics, including concern about crime and social cohesion; plastic card fraud; identity fraud; antisocial behaviour; road safety and traffic; and demographics and media.<br> <br> The VF contains offence-level data. Up to six different incidents are asked about for each respondent. Each of these constitutes a separate victim form and can be matched back to the respondent-level data through the variable ROWLABEL. Topics covered include the nature and circumstances of the incident, details of offenders, security measures, costs, emotional reactions, contact with the CJS and outcomes where known.<br> <br> Self-completion modules were also fielded to adult respondents in the 2009-2010 survey, covering drug use, drinking behaviour, and interpersonal violence (domestic violence, sexual victimisation and stalking). These modules are held as separate studies, subject to Special Licence access (see 'Access' section below).<br> <br> <i>Children's data (aged 10-15 years)</i><br> The child NVF questionnaire included: schooling and perceptions of crime; crime screener questions (personal incidents only); perceptions of and attitudes towards the police; anti-social behaviour; and crime prevention and security. The child self-completion questionnaire covered: use of the internet; personal safety; school truancy; bullying; street gangs; drinking behaviour; cannabis use; and verification questions.<br> <br> The child VF covered the nature and circumstances of the incident, series of incidents, details of offenders, weapons, injuries and medical treatment, contact with the police. <br> <br> The child self-completion form covered bullying, street gangs, carrying knives, truancy, exclusion from school, cannabis and alcohol use. The child self-completion module is also held separately and under Special Licence access conditions (see above and under 'Access' section below)