I am reviewing both council-run and voluntary youth crime prevention work in our local authority. Some small organisations do not have formal evaluation of their work. How can I capture the value of their work in a short timeframe?
It is essential for all organisations to keep some basic data on what they do – staff, budget, numbers and types of users. These at least give you a baseline for any evaluation. A good way to find out if the organisation achieves what is says is to ask a sample of those who have used the service. Talk to them about what they want from the service and ask for examples of how it made a difference. You can also ask the service to self-evaluate by asking users and staff to record their views.
Think creatively about how to measure impact. Many organisations focus on basic statistical information, such as attendance rates; some may also use validated scales measuring an aspect of child development. The key feature of evaluation is its clarity and systematic nature, not the particular form it takes.
Answered by Paul Clark, director of the Potential Organisation. He was director of children’s services in Harrow for seven years
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
