Maximising Adviser Impact

Supporting workforce development

This report explores the current challenges and opportunities for developing and supporting employment advisers on Restart. The research is cognisant of the changes in the profile and needs of Restart participants over the course of the program since 2021 and changing conditions of the labour market post-pandemic and the impact this has had on recruitment and delivery of the programme. Specifically, this research addresses three main objectives:

• Understanding and articulating the skillsets required to be a high-performing adviser, based on current and future programme needs.
• Identifying best practices in supporting the recruitment, retention and progression of advisers.
• Understanding the role of line managers, both in terms of the skills required to deliver high performance and the support needed to develop an effective adviser team.

It then develops recommendations and provides practical strategies to improve adviser capability, recruitment, and retention across the eight prime providers of the ReAct Partnership.

Drawing on the main objectives of the project, the research answers the following questions:

1. What are the range of skills needed to be a successful employment adviser on the Restart programme?
2. What are the most effective recruitment and retention approaches to support a team of high-performing advisers for the Restart programme?
3. How do line management and training contribute to the development and retention of successful advisers for Restart?

The research was designed and led by a multidisciplinary team of researchers, economists, psychologists, and HR professionals with expertise in workforce development, job mapping, labour market analysis, and talent management.