The DWP’s Peer Mentoring Programme offers individuals with a substance dependency (‘mentees’) one-to-one support from a mentor with lived experience.

The programme has been tested in selected Jobcentre Plus (JCP) sites in England and Wales and delivered through 4 providers: Change Grow Live;, The Growth Company, Inclusion, The Wallich. Mentees joined the programme after being referred by the JCP or other third parties. Mentees were eligible for referral if they met the following criteria:

• they had a substance dependency that was a barrier to them obtaining sustained employment
• they were 18 years old or older and lived in one of the locations in which the test was being conducted
• they were claiming benefits, including Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Income support, or were not in receipt of benefits but were unemployed

This report details the evaluation of this Programme, drawing on a range of evidence collected between April 2023 and February 2025.

As of December 2024, 2,994 individuals have been referred to the programme. Just under 6 in 10 (58%) of those that were referred started the programme. Of those who started on the programme, one-third (32%, representing 19% of all those referred) completed the programme within the timescales covered by the analysis. Two-fifths (41%) of mentees who started on the programme, had disengaged.

Research Context
The government is committed to reducing harms from substance misuse. Dame Carol Black’s independent reviews into the impact of employment outcomes on drug and alcohol addiction (reports in 2016 and 2021) highlighted that, alongside treatment, meaningful activity such as employment makes an important contribution to sustaining recovery from a substance dependency. However, individuals with a substance dependency often have complex needs and require specialist intervention to overcome barriers to recovery and employment.

In this context, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) conducted a test of Peer Mentoring as a way of supporting these individuals to overcome barriers and make progress. Progress can mean different things for different mentees, for example around recovery from dependency, health, wellbeing or the labour market. These are referred to as ‘outcomes’ in the report. The evaluation was commissioned to assess this initiative and specifically, to:

understand how Peer Mentoring was implemented and delivered. This included:

• exploring recruitment, training and retention of peer mentors
• the roles of JCP Single Points of Contact (SPOCs)
• approaches to substance dependency disclosure and referral
• use of diagnostic tools and SMART action plans
• engagement with employment and other support
• upskilling of JCP Work Coaches

examine mentee progression and outcomes: This involved:

• exploring the extent of mentee disclosure of substance dependency
• levels of referrals to Peer Mentoring, as well as starts and completes
• mentee wellbeing and health outcomes
• mentee distance travelled towards the labour market
• levels of mentees disengaging from the Peer Mentoring programme and reasons for this

examine wider outcomes: This involved exploring experiences of:

• mentors, JCP staff and stakeholders
• the skills and confidence of mentors, JCP staff and stakeholders in working with individuals with dependencies
  inter-agency relations and ways of working
• mentee engagement with broader support services

identify lessons learnt: This involved:

• assessing the extent to which the test design enabled the policy intent to be realised, and why
• assessing what works for whom, in supporting individuals with substance dependencies
• identifying lessons learnt for potential wider rollout and future activity supporting individuals with substance dependencies....

[Link to full report on Department's website or link to summary]