Working with an integrated evaluation approach

Working with an integrated evaluation approach

Let's face it, evaluations can be challenging. It doesn't matter how expert your skills are, there are invariably adjustments to be made with shifting timelines and changing contexts in producing robust causal evidence with an impact evaluation. This talk looks at an evaluation programme at the Stockport Family Service and how it is working to enable a more effective form of social care delivery.

The Stockport Family Service received funding from the Department for Education under their Innovation Programme to support their whole-system change innovation project, which aims to facilitate more holistic and effective social care service. It was important to the Council that the evaluation of the programme followed the guiding principles of the programme of listening, empowering and doing. To enable this they commissioned an independent external evaluator to work with both external embedded academic researchers and practitioner researchers recruited from within the organisation.

During this event Sally Panayiotou from TNS BMRB – the independent evaluator – walks through the first year of working in this exciting research model, its practicalities and and expectations for the rich insight it will yield. The organisation is already seeing the benefits of incorporating this embedded researcher ethnographic approach and practitioners' expertise with our more traditional external evaluator role. The evaluation isn't without its challenges - Sally will also be sharing the lessons-learned and giving tips for how to work effectively with embedded researchers and practitioner researchers.