Jobcentre Plus and Children's Centres

This report presents findings from a qualitative study of Jobcentre Plus' involvement in Children's Centres undertaken by the Institute of Employment Studies on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

A case study approach was undertaken involving observations and depth interviews with Jobcentre Plus District managers, Childcare Partnership Managers and Personal Advisers; Children's Centre managers and staff; other partner organisations and centre users.

The findings are supplemented throughout by the results of an internal DWP survey of all 50 Jobcentre Plus districts conducted in late 2006.

The study explored the extent and nature of Jobcentre Plus' involvement in Children's Centres, focusing on the effectiveness of working relationships between stakeholders as well as the experiences of DWP and non-DWP customers using Jobcentre Plus services in Children's Centres.