Effects of individualised follow-up on activation programme participants' self-sufficiency: A cluster-randomised study

Abstract

Recent developments within activation policies emphasise tailor-made and individualised services; however, little is known of what the effects of these initiatives are. The aim of this study was, therefore, to analyse, in a cluster-randomised design, the long-term effects of an individualised follow-up model on welfare recipients' self-sufficiency. The follow-up model systematises the work done by social workers within the Qualification Programme, which is a welfare-to-work programme in Norway. In the study, 18 labour and welfare offices were randomised to experimental and control groups. The data consist of baseline questionnaires for Qualification Programme participants (n = 617) and follow-ups based on administrative data at 12, 24 and 30 months after baseline. The results show significant effects of individualised follow-up on self-sufficiency at the 30-month follow-up and strong positive trends at the 18- and 24-month follow-ups. Thus, comprehensive and individualised follow-up of participants within activation programmes seems to generate positive long-term effects on self-sufficiency