Sharing and matching local and national data on adults of working age facing multiple barriers to employment: Administrative Datasets for Measuring Impacts on Disadvantage
Research Report No. 387
by Nicholas Pleace and Joanne Bretherton
Undertaken as part of the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP's) 'Administrative Datasets for Measuring Impacts on Disadvantage' (ADMID) Project, the report explores the scope and practicalities of sharing personal information among a range of local agencies.
The study involved detailed consultation with agencies working with groups facing multiple barriers to employment. The fieldwork for the research focused on homeless people, drug and alcohol dependent people, former offenders recently released from custody and refugee groups. The practical, ethical and legal issues, including the seeking of free and informed consent are discussed in detail. The obstacles to data sharing are examined and possible ways forward are discussed.
The report contributes to broader discussions about ways to improve the range and quality of administrative data available on social exclusion. Data sharing between local agencies, Jobcentre Plus and the DWP should result in enriched longitudinal information on workless people and on localities with high levels of unemployment.
October 2006
ISBN 1 84712 072 5
