Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 27
27
Acknowledged
Pathfinder projects trialling innovative job support, placing work coaches in GP surgeries.
Conclusion
The Department explained it has a phased approach to the jobs and careers service. It said its ‘pathfinder projects’ are part of the first phase, testing new ways of delivering its services. In phase two, in 2026–27, it told us it would roll out further the things it has tried that have worked.58 The Department told us, for example, that it is trialling putting work coaches in GP surgeries and engaging people outside of jobcentres. The Department referenced a success story from Poplar in London, where it has seen positive results of people having conversations with a work coach in a setting that is not the jobcentre and getting different types of support. It said that it has a presence in the GP surgery and community centre, and that it is running practical and skills classes. It stated that results in the Poplar example seems to be making a big difference for people who are long-term unemployed.59
Government Response Summary
The government is using test and learn principles, including Pathfinders, to test the Jobs and Careers Service, and its evaluation strategy is under development with research to be published at a future date.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
4.5 The department is also using test and learn principles, to test the whole Jobs and Careers Service vision via several Pathfinders. This will allow the department to see how its employment support offer interacts with local support for young people, those with health conditions and other government initiatives such as inactivity trailblazers. Testing in these Pathfinders will be small-scale, with learning iterating over time. The department’s evaluation strategy for the Jobs and Careers Service is under development and the department intends to publish research in line with Government Social Research processes at a future date.