Client needs for coherent information, advice and guidance services ...

III:
CLIENTS AND PROVIDERS IN THE SAMPLE
INTRODUCTION
301 This chapter provides an overview of clients and providers contributing to the
project. The first section briefly summarises the sample as a whole; subsequent
sections provide more details of participants. In view of the fact that clients were
accessed via providers, the latter are described first. Chapters V and VI reverse this
order, recognising that client perceptions were the principal focus for the research.
SAMPLE SUMMARY
302 In total, 34 organisations were involved in the research; this included 29 of the 30
providers originally approached. 5 Table 3.1 below summarises the sample of clients
and providers as a whole.
Table 3.1:
Sample summary by area
Area
No of provider
organisations
No of client
participants
No of provider
interviews
Coventry & Warwickshire 7 46 15
Greater Manchester 8 31 20
London South 6 40 14
Suffolk 7 16 15
Tyne and Wear 7 31 12
TOTAL 35 164 76
303 In some instances, the IAG provider was unable to arrange easy access to specified
target groups through their own client base and services. In such cases, these
providers were sometimes able to secure the cooperation of colleagues and partner
organisations in order to make good the gaps. For example, focus groups with
Jobcentre Plus clients were often arranged through providers contracted to deliver
Jobcentre programmes; similarly, Connexions clients, including young people with
learning difficulties/disabilities, were sometimes accessed via specialist providers or
colleges.
304 Where possible, interviews were held with representatives of these ‘additional’
organisations, as well as with advisers from the main ‘contact’ provider. This
resulted in the involvement of a larger number of provider organisations than the
original target of 30.
SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: PROVIDERS
Types of provider
305 All seven types of provider, as identified in the original research specification, were
included, although coverage of in-work IAG services was minimal. Other types of
5 One visit was cancelled twice by the provider at short notice and not pursued further.
16