User outcomes

Implications for future programme development

Taking into account the absence of regular funding for counselling services (provided outside of PES system), if more extensive outreach efforts are adopted, this is likely to have implications for programme resources and costs.

Policy implications

The experience of GOAL in Lithuania suggests that although in general GOAL outcomes from perspective of client should be assessed as highly positive, clients face a large mix of personal and other barriers in fully achieving their goals or taking one step up after the counselling. This implies that collaboration with a diverse group of specialists and expanding resources for the target group needs to be looked at from the policy level.

The model of one session in Wave 1 after overall GOAL experience did not prove to be very effective, because it is hardly possible to serve the needs of clients in just one meeting, nevertheless, it had some positive effect on the introduction of minor changes in viewing their life situation and taking new decisions related to education or/and job search.

Implications of policy

Taking into account such outcomes of guidance as enrolment into course, for some clients it will not be possible to achieve these outcomes because of financial reasons. Only a small part of training programmes is free of charge or suitable for adult learners. Partners from PES also complained that many formal training programmes are too long for adult learners and, therefore, they cannot be funded by ESF. When it comes to guidance for seniors, there is even less offer in terms of training that would help them integrate into labour market. Then some other activation measures should be proposed, e.g. volunteering schemes, publicly supported jobs, etc.

Implications for policy

Counselling for adult learners can only be effective if combined with other incentives like active employment policy with measures for integrating vulnerable groups back to the labour market. If there is no offer of further training, courses and programmes, or financial incentives, the counselling itself is unlikely to have sustainable effects.