In recent years, the number and proportion of single-parent homes in the EU has increased, accounting for one in ten households in 2010. However, lone parents (mostly women) face difficulties entering and remaining in the labour market, which makes them more likely to face poverty than the rest of the population. Improving the situation of lone parents is a crucial part of the European policy framework, as the EU is committed to fighting social exclusion and poverty, as well as advancing the cause of gender equality.

The disadvantages faced by single parents are exacerbated by the fact that childcare facilities continue to be limited, expensive or non-existent in much of the EU. According to a (2013) report from the European Commission, only 10 Member States met the Barcelona objective of setting up childcare facilities for at least 33% of children younger than three by 2010. A total of 11 Member States met the target of setting up childcare facilities for at least 90% of those between three and the mandatory school age.

In the context of the economic downturn, the situation for lone parents in Northern Ireland became more difficult, while many of the features and disadvantages facing the group remained the same. A lack of childcare places and the introduction of new eligibility criteria for social welfare payments contributed to the decision to begin the Pathways to Work for Lone Parents (PWLP) scheme.

Considering the characteristics of single parents at the time of the pilot programme, women led just over 90% of single-parent households in both the 2001 and 2011 censuses. Lone parents were still more likely to be unemployed than those in couples; in 2007, 52.4% of them were in work, as opposed to 74.8% of partnered mothers. Additionally, they continued to be at high risk of poverty, particularly if did not have jobs. In 2009, 56% of children from inactive single parent households in the UK faced poverty; for children of lone parents in part-time and full-time employment, the figures were 17% and 7% respectively.

The PWLP scheme was the first initiative aimed specifically at single parents across the fields of poverty and social exclusion. It aimed to facilitate the (re-)integration of lone parents into the labour market (and society) through a number of services and incentives.

Working on the assumption that a paid job is the best way to gain financial autonomy and to move out of poverty, the Department of Employment and Learning Northern Ireland set up the Pathways to Work for Lone Parents (PWLP) pilot to increase the number of single parents in work. It did this by offering: customised guidance and interviews (through Dedicated Personal Advisors); financial incentives (the Return to Work Credit, the In-Work Emergency Fund and the Job Grant); professional training (the Work Preparation Programme for Lone Parents); and subsidies for childcare costs (up to £240 weekly for two or more children).

Under the PWLP scheme, specialist, psychologically-trained Dedicated Advisors offered one-to-one support to lone parents. Through asking guiding questions, they could judge the parents’ needs effectively and expose the perceived / actual barriers to their participation in the workforce. Drawing on their knowledge of support schemes, the advisors recommended the most appropriate training or funding. They also maintained contact with the same clients throughout the entire process, establishing strong bonds of trust and understanding which contributed to the overall effectiveness of the interventions.

Advisors drew on certain tools to assist them when working with lone parents, and received enhanced, regular training as part of the scheme. It was mandatory for them to carry out Work Focused Interviews (WFIs), which became more frequent as parents’ children got older. During these, the Advisors undertook a Better-off calculation (BOC) to show lone parents the financial benefits of going back to work, integrating individual benefits, wages and hours worked into the calculations. The BOC helped clients to gain a clearer sense of the financial benefits of being in work. The funds provided by the Return to Work Credit (RTWC) were important in ensuring that clients were better off in work than claiming benefits, with 76% of lone parents returning to work from the pilot offices claiming the Return to Work Credit (RTWC).

• The pilot offices worked with 3733 lone parents over the two years the measure operated. Of these, 3616 individuals had a WFI with a Dedicated Personal Advisor, and 539 (15%) re-entered the labour force. This compared favourably with the average re-entry rate in non-pilot offices (1%).
• In a survey conducted by KPMG (as part of the evaluation of the programme, see below), 89% of the lone parents said that they had appreciated having a single advisor who understood their needs. As a result, they were able to be more open, did not have to repeat themselves and, generally, found the discussion more persuasive. The BOC was drawn out as a positive tool.
• Ultimately, due to the strain of the economic recession on the financial and human resources of the Jobs and Benefits Offices (JBOs), the Advisors were absorbed into the mainstream advisory teams of the Public Employment Services.