Review of 50 Plus Works good-practice guide and toolkit: in-house research no. 8
Qualitative study involving frontline staff at DWP provider organisations and JobCentre Plus offices to assess the usefulness of the 50 Plus Works website.
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by Tim Willis
50 Plus Works is a free-to-use website designed to assist staff in provider organisations that are helping older jobseekers to return to work.
The good practice guide and toolkit was developed and operated by the Age and Employment Network (TAEN). The development of 50 Plus Works was co-financed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and European Social Fund (ESF) Technical Assistance. It was developed as part of the recognition that older people may need a different type of support to recover from the economic downturn. TAEN was contracted to work closely with provider organisations in developing and promoting the guide and will be maintaining the website.
DWP staff and provider organisations can expect to see increased numbers of older customers both in overall numbers and as a proportion of the total population as a result of increases in the retirement and pension age (alongside an ageing population) and numbers of claimants undertaking a more active benefit regime following current benefit changes.
This in-house qualitative study included interviews with front-line advisory staff from DWP provider organisations as well as staff working in Jobcentre Plus offices. The research assesses how useful the 50 Plus Works guide and toolkit is to staff in DWP provider organisations in helping older jobseekers return to work. The study also explored whether or not the website is the choice for providers. Metrics relating to the usage of the website over time were also examined via Google Analytics.