Research carried out by the University of the West of England on behalf of the Single Parent Action Network, found that out of the 50 single parents they followed looking for work, not one gained employment as a result of their interaction with the job centre.
Parents who did secure a job through existing networks such as friends or previous employers, took on low-paid jobs with few prospects, where their previous qualifications and skills were not likely to be used.
The study, funded by the Big Lottery research programme, also revealed Jobcentre Plus (JCP) to be unhelpful in enabling single parents to balance their parental responsibilities with the need to work.
Many parents said they felt that Jobcentre Plus staff wanted them to go for any job, regardless of their previous qualifications and skills. They also missed the specialist point of contact which Lone Parent Advisors provided when they claimed Income Support.
Other issues highlighted by single parents included not being able to see the same advisor on every visit and a lack of job centre training, in particular for those who wanted self-employment support, which is only available after being on Job Seeker’s Allowance for six months.
Some parents in the study also found that JCP advisors were dismissive of their plans for self-employment.
The findings are published as an estimated 124,000 more single parents are expected to enter the job market this month following changes to the welfare system.
From this month, lone parents are required to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance once their youngest child reaches five years of age, down from a threshold of seven years of age previously.
This means that lone parents who previously did not have to actively look for work, or be available for work, must now prove that they are trying to get back into the workplace. They also face additional challenges to when it comes to getting back into work, such as finding suitable part-time jobs and a shortage of childcare, particularly for secondary age children.
The report, A Longitudinal Qualitative Study of the Journeys of Single Parents on Jobseeker’s Allowance, makes a number of recommendations to help single parents back into work, they include:
support for training programmes to further single parents’ advancement in the labour market, including training for parents before they go on Job Seeker’s Allowance;
Jobcentre Plus playing a more proactive role in encouraging employers to design quality part-time jobs and the piloting of a job-share register;
a change in policy so parents can access self-employment training when they first go on Job Seeker’s Allowance;
training Jobcentre Plus staff in their legislative responsibilities towards children and asking the children’s commissioner to investigate changes in policy and practice within Jobcentre Plus to improve children’s well-being;
the Work and Pensions Select Committee to investigate the treatment of single parents in the unemployment benefits system to make sure that the services offered are better tailored to address single parents’ specific needs.
Sue Cohen, chief executive of Single Parent Action Network, said, ‘Although single parents welcome the opportunity to work, they face a number of significant hurdles in returning to employment, as our research shows, with implications for women’s equality given that nine out of ten single parents are mothers.
‘Times may be hard, but there are many straightforward and practical steps that the Government could take to support single parents as workers and carers. These include providing Lone Parent Advisors for single parents on Job Seeker’s Allowance and improved training for Jobcentre staff.
'There needs to be better service delivery in supporting skills, training, childcare and children’s well-being. More should be done to support those innovative parents who want to start their own business, while employers should be encouraged to design quality jobs with part-time hours.’
