Citizens Advice services as buffer between inflexible state agencies and disadvantaged individuals: a realist investigation

摘要: Individuals in receipt of advice services may be those experiencing disadvantages and difficulties navigating state systems, which are often viewed as providing inequitable resources. The inability individuals to access understand such systems can play a significant role widening inequalities. However, there is limited amount evidence on whether how effective addressing needs inequalities marginalised individuals. This paper draws client interviews from an ongoing realist evaluation the impact Citizen's Advice (CA) service health North England. In exploring participants' experiences received its impacts lifestyle, behaviours needs, CA was depicted acting buffer between clients state. Without this support, official agencies were perceived deliberate barrier accessing resources entitled additional contact likely result increased scrutiny removal existing support. Bhabha's Third Space (2004) facilitates understanding relationship by characterising it zone (Pratt, 1991) state, dominant hegemon, client, individual marginalised Other. advisors, drawing elements trust (Hurley, 2006), enter into space client's behalf, allowing power dynamic redrawn clients' better considered within individual, social political contexts. This points importance buffering linkages if arrangements challenged.