Question reference: S6W-07135
- Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 8 March 2022
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Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 March 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has made of any impact that the voluntary nature of participating in the Fair Start Scotland programme has had on (a) participant satisfaction, (b) entry into employment and (c) the duration of employment outcomes.
Answer
On 14 October 2021 the Scottish Government published the Fair Start Scotland: Evaluation Report 4 - Year 3 Overview , which provides an overview of evaluation research relating to the third year of service delivery from 1 April 2020 up to 31 March 2021.
The report includes findings from a telephone survey of over 1000 participants; local area case studies, interviews with participants across the country, an economic evaluation and analysis of management information on participants’ outcomes.
Results from the telephone survey show that nine in ten people (90%) were aware the service was voluntary. It also shows that:
? 95% of people feel they were treated with dignity and respect
? 82% of people felt the service took account of their individual needs and circumstances
? 84% of people felt the service offered support to improve their general quality of life and well-being
The full telephone survey was published alongside the Year 3 Evaluation Report and can be found here .
In addition to findings from the survey, interviews with participants were also conducted as part of the evaluation. Findings from these interviews suggest that Fair Start Scotland participants with experience of the DWP Work Programme disliked the compulsory nature of the latter and the risk of sanctions for non-completion or non-participation. Participants also felt that Fair Start Scotland key workers are more supportive and respectful than Work Programme advisers.
Most recent statistics published on 23 February 2022 show that since its launch in April 2018, FSS has supported more than 14,000 people into work.
The statistics show that for participants where data is complete, 37% were supported into work. They also show that the majority of people who get jobs have high levels of sustaining employment:
? 71% of those starting jobs sustained employment for at least 3 months.
? 79% of those who sustained employment for 3 months reached 6 months.
? 77% of those who sustained employment for 6 months reached 12 months.
The Fair Start Scotland: Economic Evaluation , also published on 14 October 2021, found evidence that the jobs achieved by Fair Start Scotland participants are more stable in comparison with other programmes.
Findings from the overall evaluation suggest that the service has a positive impact on the wellbeing of participants, both in terms of the quality of jobs achieved and improved labour market outcomes, as well with regards to their experience of the service as a whole.