Professor Del Fletcher BSc (Hons) MSoc, Sc
Professor of Labour Market Studies
Summary
Del Roy Fletcher is a Professor of Labour Market Studies at the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research.
About
His research interests include worklessness and labour market disadvantage, the impact of welfare reforms on disadvantaged groups, and evaluations of interventions that seek to improve the lives of people with multiple and complex needs (offending, homelessness, problematic substance/alcohol misuse and mental ill health). He was recently a co-investigator on a major ESRC study of the ethnicality and ethicacy of welfare conditionality.
Del has directed several national evaluations of labour market pilot programmes including the Jobseekers Mandatory Activity, Working Neighbourhoods Pilot, and the New Deal Innovation Fund. He is currently directing the evaluation of the West Yorkshire Finding Independance Project which seeks to improve the way services are coordinated and delivered so that people experiencing multiple and complex needs are better able to manage their lives. Del was a commissioner of the Sheffield Fairness Commission and has authored over 30 articles in peer-reviewed academic journals.
Research interests
- worklessness and labour market disadvantage
- labour market policy and strategy
- welfare reform and it's impact on disadvantaged groups
- severe and multiple disadvantage
- offender employment interventions
- peer led support.
Research
- Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research
2014-2020 West Yorkshire Finding Independence Evaluation, Big Lottery Fund. Role: Director.
2013-2020 Evaluation of Talent Match, Big Lottery Fund. Role: Member of research team.
2013-2018 Welfare Conditionality: Sanctions, Support and Behaviour Change. ESRC. Role: Co-Investigator.
Publications
Key Publications
Fletcher, D.R. (2005). Providing enterprise support for offenders: realising new opportunities or reinforcing old inequalities? Environment and planning C: government and policy, 23 (5), 715-731. http://doi.org/10.1068/C0529
Fletcher, D.R. (2007). A culture of worklessness? Historical insights from the Manor and Park area of Sheffield. Policy and politics, 35 (1), 65-85. http://doi.org/10.1332/030557307779657748
Fletcher, D.R. (2008). Employment and disconnection: Cultures of worklessness in neighbourhoods. In Community Cohesion in Crisis?: New Dimensions of Diversity and Difference. (pp. 99-117).
Fletcher, D., Batty, E., Flint, J.F., & McNeill, J. (2016). Gamers or victims of the system? Welfare reform, cynical manipulation and vulnerability. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 24 (2), 171-185. http://doi.org/10.1332/175982716X14650295704731
Fletcher, D. (2015). Workfare - a blast from the past? Contemporary work conditionality for the unemployed in historical perspective. Social Policy and Society, 14 (3), 329-339. http://doi.org/10.1017/S1474746414000232
Fletcher, D.R. (1997). Evaluating Special Measures for the Unemployed: some reflections on recent UK experience. Policy & Politics, 25 (2), 173-184. http://doi.org/10.1332/030557397782453318
Fletcher, D.R. (2002). Employers, recruitment and offenders: underlining the limits of work-focused welfare? Policy and politics, 31 (4), 497-510. http://doi.org/10.1332/030557303322439371
Fletcher, D. (2008). Offenders in the post-industrial labour market : from the underclass to the undercaste? Policy and Politics, 36 (2), 283-297. http://doi.org/10.1332/030557308783995053
Fletcher, D. (2011). Welfare reform, Jobcentre Plus and the street-level bureaucracy : towards inconsistent and discriminatory welfare for severely disadvantaged groups? Social Policy and Society, 10 (04), 445-458. http://doi.org/10.1017/S1474746411000200
Fletcher, D. (2010). The workless class? : economic transformation, informal work and male working-class identity. Social Policy and Society, 9 (03), 325-336. http://doi.org/10.1017/S1474746410000059
Fletcher, D., & Wright, S. (2017). A hand up or a slap down? Criminalising benefit claimants in Britain via strategies of surveillance, sanctions and deterrence. Critical Social Policy, 38 (2), 323-344. http://doi.org/10.1177/0261018317726622
Fletcher, D., & Flint, J. (2018). Welfare conditionality and social marginality: the folly of the tutelary state? Critical Social Policy, 38 (4), 771-791. http://doi.org/10.1177/0261018317753088
Fletcher, D. (2019). British public employment service reform: activating and civilising the precariat? Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 27 (3), 407-421. http://doi.org/10.1332/175982719X15622552304853
Journal articles
Redman, J., Fletcher, D., White, R., & Mccarthy, L. (2022). 'You had to be the detective': implementing workfare in British employment services. Journal of Social Policy. http://doi.org/10.1017/S0047279422000733
Fletcher, D., & Redman, J. (2022). 'The sanctions are good for some people but not for someone like me who actually genuinely does their job search.' British JSA claimant views on punitive welfare reform: hegemony in action? Capital and Class. http://doi.org/10.1177/03098168221109653
Redman, J., & Fletcher, D. (2021). Violent bureaucracy: a critical analysis of the British public employment service. Critical Social Policy, 42 (2), 306-326. http://doi.org/10.1177/02610183211001766
Fletcher, D.R. (2020). Introduction to the Special Edition. Social Policy & Administration, 54 (2), 185-190. http://doi.org/10.1111/spol.12569
Fletcher, D. (2020). Introduction to the Special Edition on welfare conditionality. Social Policy and Administration: an international journal of policy and research, 54, 185-190. http://doi.org/10.1111/spol.12569
Wright, S., Fletcher, D., & Stewart, A. (2020). Punitive benefit sanctions, welfare conditionality and the social abuse of unemployed people in Britain: transforming claimants into offenders? Social Policy and Administration: an international journal of policy and research. http://doi.org/10.1111/spol.12577
Fletcher, D. (2019). Welfare conditionality and people with severe and multiple disadvantages: time to rebalance the social security system? People, Place and Policy. http://doi.org/10.3351/ppp.2019.7435339758
Fletcher, D.R. (2019). Welfare conditionality and people with severe and multiple disadvantages: time to rebalance the social security system? People, Place and Policy Online, 13 (1), 42-47. http://doi.org/10.3351/ppp.2019.7435339758
Fletcher, D.R. (2013). The governance of social marginality in the UK: Towards the centaur state? British Journal of Community Justice, 11 (1), 19-34.
Fletcher, D. (2011). The development of working prisons: transforming inmates from the Lumpenproletariat to the contingent workforce? British journal of community justice, 9 (1/2), 111-124.
Fletcher, D.R. (2011). The development of working prisons: Transforming inmates from the lumpenproletariat to the contingent workforce? British Journal of Community Justice, 9 (1-2), 111-124.
Fletcher, D. (2009). Social tenants, attachment to place and work in the post-industrial labour market : underlining the limits of housing-based explanations of labour immobility? Housing Studies, 24 (6), 775-791. http://doi.org/10.1080/02673030903205895
Fletcher, D. (2008). Tackling concentrations of worklessness : highlighting the limits of work-focused organisational cultures in the UK. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 26 (3), 563-582. http://doi.org/10.1068/c0631
Fletcher, D.R. (2008). Book Review: Employability and Local Labour Market Policy Ronald W. McQuaid, Anne Green and Mike Danson (Eds), 2006 London: Routledge 162 pp. £65.00 hardback ISBN 0 415 37630 0 hardback. Urban Studies, 45 (1), 241-243. http://doi.org/10.1177/00420980080450011106
Fletcher, D.R. (2004). Demand-led programmes: challenging labour market inequalities or reinforcing them? Environment and planning C: government and policy, 22 (1), 115-128. http://doi.org/10.1068/c0329
Fletcher, D.R. (2002). The Police Act and the Recruitment of Offenders: Towards the Limits of Social Exclusion? Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 20 (5), 757-773. http://doi.org/10.1068/c0126
Fletcher, D.R. (2001). Ex-Offenders, the Labour Market and the New Public Administration. Public Administration, 79 (4), 871-891. http://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9299.00284
Fletcher, D.R. (2000). The National Development Programme: policy implementation in an era of welfare reform. Policy & Politics, 28 (2), 163-178. http://doi.org/10.1332/0305573002500893
Fletcher, D.R. (1999). Ex-Offenders and the Labour Market: A Review of the Discourse of Social Exclusion and Consequences for Crime and the New Deal. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 17 (4), 431-444. http://doi.org/10.1068/c170431
Fletcher, D.R. (1998). The Effectiveness of Active Labour-Market Policies: Latest Evidence from the National Development Programme. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 16 (5), 573-589. http://doi.org/10.1068/c160573
Book chapters
Fletcher, D. (2020). The 'fearsome frowning face of the state' and ex-prisoners: promoting employment or alienation, anger and perpetual punishment? In Albertson, K., Corcoran, M., & Phillips, J. (Eds.) Marketisation and Privatisation in Criminal Justice. Bristol University Press
Reports
Crisp, R., Fletcher, D., Parr, S., & Wilson, I. (2020). West-Yorkshire Finding Independence (WY-FI): Effectiveness, outcomes and impact - Final evaluation report 2020. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/west-yorkshire-finding-independence-wy-fi-effectiveness-outcomes-and-impact---final-evaluation
Crisp, R., Green, A., & Fletcher, D. (2014). Talent Match case study theme report: partnership working and development. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/talent-match-case-study-theme-report-partnership-working-and-development
Fletcher, D., & Dalgleish, K. (2012). An evaluation of the Personal Effectiveness and Employability Through the Arts project. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/an-evaluation-of-the-personal-effectiveness-and-employability-through-the-arts-project
Fletcher, D., & Batty, E. (2012). Offender peer interventions: What do we know? Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/offender-peer-interventions-what-do-we-know
Fletcher, D., Flint, J.F., Gore, T., Powell, R., Batty, E., & Crisp, R. (2012). Qualitative study of offender employment review: final report. Department for Work and Pensions. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/qualitative-study-of-offender-employment-review-final-report
Fletcher, D. (2010). Review of offender financial capability support: key messages. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/review-of-offender-financial-capability-support-key-messages
Fletcher, D., Gore, T., Reeve, K., Robinson, D., Bashir, N., Goudie, R., & O'Toole, S. (2008). Social housing and worklessness: qualitative research findings. Department for Work and Pensions. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/social-housing-and-worklessness-qualitative-research-findings
Fletcher, D., Gore, T., Macmillan, R., Batty, E., & Pearson, S. (2008). Qualitative evaluation of the Jobseeker Mandatory Activity (JMA). Department for Work and Pensions; Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/qualitative-evaluation-of-the-jobseeker-mandatory-activity-jma
Crisp, R., & Fletcher, D. (2008). A comparative review of workfare programmes in the United States, Canada and Australia. Department for Work and Pensions. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/a-comparative-review-of-workfare-programmes-in-the-united-states-canada-and-australia
Fletcher, D., Gore, T., Reeve, K., & Robinson, D. (2008). Social housing and worklessness: Key policy messages. Department for Work and Pensions. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/social-housing-and-worklessness-key-policy-messages
Dewson, S., Casebourne, J., Darlow, A., Bickerstaffe, T., Fletcher, D., Gore, T., & Krishnan, S. (2007). Evaluation of the Working Neighbourhoods Pilot: Final report. Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/evaluation-of-the-working-neighbourhoods-pilot-final-report
Fletcher, D. (2004). Reducing Re-offending: The Enterprise Option. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/reducing-re-offending-the-enterprise-option
Fletcher, D., Taylor, A., Hughes, S., & Breeze, J. (2001). Recruiting and employing offenders. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/recruiting-and-employing-offenders
Fletcher, D. (2001). Evaluation of the New Deal Innovation Fund (Rounds One and Two). Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/evaluation-of-the-new-deal-innovation-fund-rounds-one-and-two
Theses / Dissertations
Hamer, R.E. (2022). The Scylla state: an alternative understanding of survival sex work and addiction. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Fletcher, D., Reeve, K., & Ferrari, E. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00484
Redman, J. (2020). From welfare to warfare: class struggle on the margins. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Fletcher, D. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00343
Postgraduate supervision
Del is currently director of studies for two PhDs. The topics currently supervised are
- The experiences of vulnerable women at the intersection of the welfare and criminal justice system (student: Larissa Povery)
- The use of emotional labour by the claimant unemployed to eschew undesirable activation and retain benefits (student: Jamie Redman)
- Women's experiences of street working and/or problem drug use and the relevance and appropriateness of treatment models (student: Rebecca Hamer)