Local Evaluation

1
Local Evaluation

• Reflections from a Trailblazer

2
Why we did it?

• Because we had to?
• Because it said so in the guidance?
• Because our evaluator told us we had to?

3
Why we did it?

• Compare progress made to date in comparison to
  the delivery plan
• Opportunity to recruit and train local parents
• To raise the profile of the programme within the
  local area

4
What was evaluation?

• Were we going to be judged
• Were we going to be inspected
• What if the parents said nasty things about us

5
Uncertainty?
6
The process

• Community researchers recruited through local
  networks
• Positions offered on condition that a (paid)
  training programme was completed
• The six successful applicants then undertook
  interviews in pairs

7
The process

• Were paid 8 per interview
• Provided with mobiles phones
• Questionnaires completed by mothers with at least
  one child under 4 and/or pregnant
• 100 interviews took place (70-80 expected)

8
The findings

• Expected
• Health Visitors very approachable
• Fairly stable community
• No single parents in full-time work
• 20 of households contain no working adult
• Parents found Mother Toddler/Baby groups very
  helpful

9
The findings

• Un-expected
• Over half (55) the children were born outside
  the Borough
• Three out of four children were read to on a
  daily basis
• 40 of households contain an adult that smokes
• 30 of all mothers smoke

10
How we used them

• New services
• Application for additional PSA funding for -
  smoking cessation activities, employment/training
  activities, additional play/crèche support,

11
How we used them

• Change of practice
• Understanding/realisation the importance of cross
  border cooperation
• Health visiting role developing to be important
  driver for a change of health practice.
• Acknowledgement of importance Midwifery service

12
Future evaluation/s

• Realisation of the complexity
• Need for expert advise and support
• Must be undertaken to consolidate Sure Start
  successes
• Use NESS