Research carried out by the University of the West of England on behalf of the Single Parent Action Network, found that out of the 50 single parents they followed looking for work, not one gained employment as a result of their interaction with the job centre.
Parents who did secure a job through existing networks such as friends or previous employers, took on low-paid jobs with few prospects, where their previous qualifications and skills were not likely to be used.
The study, funded by the Big Lottery research programme, also revealed Jobcentre Plus (JCP) to be unhelpful in enabling single parents to balance their parental responsibilities with the need to work.
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