Early process evaluation of new claims for Personal Independence Payment

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a new benefit, replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for eligible working age people nationally from June 2013. Similarly to DLA, PIP is a non means-tested benefit intended to contribute to meeting the extra costs of disability. This study was commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as an early process evaluation of PIP for new claimants. Its main aims were to understand what was working well and what was not working well in the claiming process for PIP and to identify potential areas for improving delivery

The Meaning of Funeral Poverty : an exploratory study

A study commissioned by Marie Curie and conducted at the Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, explored the concept of ‘funeral poverty’ and the potential value and feasibility of seeking an agreed definition of meaning. ‘Funeral poverty’ is a relatively recent construct emerging within growing awareness of problems in paying for funerals. The term has quickly become widely used but there is no definition of ‘funeral poverty’ or general agreement of meaning. This study initiated enquiry into how the term was being used, which elements were important, and what would be advantages and disadvantages of an agreed definition

Abstract for presentation: Verbatim quotations in reports from applied social research

Including verbatim quotations from research participants has become effectively standard practice in much reporting of qualitative applied social research. Until recently, it has been hard to find in methods texts clear arguments for the theoretical underpinning of this approach. Quotations appear to be used in different ways, for various purposes. Little is known about their impact on readers; the views of those who spoke the words are seldom sought

Exploration of understanding of the economic implications of bereavement

The submission draws together work conducted to explore understanding of economic implications of bereavement. The publications include a monograph and peer reviewed articles based on empirical research on economic implications of death of a partner. This study involved an experimental mixed methods research approach; tested an innovative model of psychotherapeutic support for researchers working on sensitive topics, made a contribution to current theorisation of the experience of bereavement, and enabled reflection on role and identity in end-of-life care. Related publications submitted arose from this study and further general scholarship on the significance of economic issues for families when one member dies. From this body of work arose a particular interest in bereavement and the workplace, which is represented here in the submitted chapter in an edited volume on death and social policy. Most recently, political and media focus on bereavement benefits and problems related to funeral costs provided an opportunity for exploratory research on the concept of ‘funeral poverty’, and the report from this study forms the final item in the publications submitted. My expertise lies in qualitative research but much of the above work has benefited from a close working partnership with a colleague with quantitative skills, with shared interest in opening up and exploring topics which had attracted little previous attention. Many of the publications presented are thus jointly authored, and in each case I provide full explanation of my own contribution. Publications presented are a selection from the outcomes of my long stream of research and scholarship in this area. Substantive findings on the economic implications of death have brought new understanding of the experience of bereavement, previously conceptualised largely within psychological and emotional process. My empirical work and subsequent scholarship has contributed to knowledge on methodological, conceptual and ethical issues and informed national and international policy and practice

Using a model of group psychotherapy to support social research on sensitive topics

This article describes the exploratory use of professional therapeutic support by social researchers working on a sensitive topic. Talking to recently bereaved parents about the financial implications of their child's death was expected to be demanding work, and the research design included access to an independent psychotherapeutic service. Using this kind of professional support is rare within the general social research community, and it is useful to reflect on the process. There are likely to be implications for collection and interpretation of data, research output and the role and experience of the therapist. Here, the primary focus is the potential impact on researcher well-being

New deal for disabled people national extension: findings from the first wave of qualitative research with clients, job brokers and jobcentre plus staff

The New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) was introduced in 1998 and 1999 as a series of pilots designed to evaluate services based on the use of personal advisers to help disabled people move into or stay in paid employment. The pilots were wound up in 2001 and superseded by what is known as the ‘national extension’ of NDDP, the aim of which is to ‘support and test innovative ways of helping people on Incapacity Benefits move from economic inactivity into sustained employment’ (DSS, ES, DfEE research specification, April, 2001). Services under the national extension are provided by a network of around 60 ‘Job Broker’ organisations including voluntary and other not-for-profit bodies, commercial companies, government agencies and other public sector organisations. This report presents findings from a first wave of qualitative research carried out in 2002 which forms part of a larger programme of work aimed at providing the Department for Work and Pensions with a comprehensive evaluation of the NDDP extension. The overall aim of the qualitative research is to explore the organisation, operation and impacts of the Job Broker service from the perspective of all key stakeholders, including users and providers of Job Broker services, and staff of Jobcentre Plus offices. Specifically, the research was designed to produce data on the following: • factors affecting participation in the Job Broker programme • clients’ understanding and experiences of NDDP • the role and operation of Job Brokers • the role and operation of the Jobcentre Plus staff who can provide people with information about Job Broker services. A research design was adopted that aimed to gather data using a range of qualitative research techniques from key actors associated with 18 Job Broker services operating in 15 specific geographical areas. The first wave of data collection was carried out in the Summer/Autumn of 2002; a second wave is planned for 2003. The report is organised into three main parts. Part I (Chapters 2 to 5) presents findings from the Job Broker and Jobcentre Plus staff research. In Part II (Chapters 6 to 9), the client perspective is presented. Part III (Chapter 10) provides an overall summary of the emerging issues

Work Programme Evaluation : the participant experience report

This report brings together and summarises the key evidence available from the different strands of the Work Programme evaluation relating to the experience of participants. In particular, it presents analyses from two waves of a large scale longitudinal survey of participants and a multi-wave (partly cross-section, partly longitudinal) programme of in-depth qualitative fieldwork with participants. The evaluation tracks the Work Programme over several years from its launch in 2011

Socio-economic costs of bereavement in Scotland: main study report.

The Socio-Economic Costs of Bereavement in Scotland (SECOB) research study was funded by the Scottish Government Health Directorates in late 2010 as part of ongoing work to inform national policy on bereavement and bereavement care practice. The project aimed to: a) articulate the likely nature and scope of the impact of bereavement on social and economic aspects of life for Scottish citizens as evidenced in relevant literature; b) seek to estimate the socio-economic costs of bereavement in an emergent sub-set of key aspects, and c) develop methodological approaches that will enhance capacity for large-scale research into the socio-economic impact of bereavement

Household finances of Carer's Allowance recipients

This report presents findings from qualitative research into the experiences of people claiming or with an underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance (CA). The findings are based on in-depth interviews with 44 people who claimed CA or had an underlying entitlement to it, in three areas of the UK in summer 2013. The aim of the research was to better understand the following research questions: • How is CA viewed in terms of the household budget, and does this vary by type of household? • How do recipients use CA and what would be the impact of non-receipt? • How does the use of CA vary depending on who is being cared for and where? • What led to the decision to claim CA? • Has receipt of CA had different impacts at different times of the caring career? • What impact has caring had on labour market participation

The economic cost of bereavement in Scotland.

Aspects of the socioeconomic costs of bereavement in Scotland were estimated using 3 sets of data. Spousal bereavement was associated with increased mortality and longer hospital stays, with additional annual cost of around {pound}20 million. Cost of bereavement coded consultations in primary care was estimated at around {pound}2.0 million annually. In addition, bereaved people were significantly less likely to be employed in the year of and 2 years after bereavement than non-bereaved matched controls, but there were no significant differences in income between bereaved people and matched controls before and after bereavement