Co-production as a route to employability: Lessons from services with lone parents

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Lindsay, Colin; Pearson, Sarah; Batty, Elaine; Cullen, Anne Marie; Eadson, Will
• 署名单位: University of Strathclyde; Sheffield Hallam University; University of Sheffield; University of Strathclyde
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3298
• DOI: 10.1111/padm.12408
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 318-332
• 关键词: public-services; 3rd sector; activation; PARTICIPATION; governance; benefits; risks

摘要

Policy-makers claim to support personalized approaches to improving the employability of disadvantaged groups. Yet, in liberal welfare states, mainstream activation programmes targeting these groups often deliver standardized, low-quality services. Such failures may be related to a governance and management regime that uses tightly defined contracting and performance targets to incentivize (mainly for-profit) service providers to move people into any job as quickly as possible. This article draws on evidence from third sector/public sector-led services in Scotland to discuss an alternative approach. These services co-produced personalized support in partnership with disadvantaged service users (in this case vulnerable lone parents). We suggest that, in this case, street-level co-production and personalization were facilitated by co-governance and co-management in the design and organization of provision. We conclude by identifying lessons for future employability services.