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Registration, refreshments and exhibitor viewing
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Welcome and introduction
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Children’s services evaluation and the AI revolution
As artificial intelligence reaches into all corners of our lives, this talk will explore what it means for the evaluation of children and young people’s services. There is a wealth of potential applications for machine learning and deep learning techniques across the sector. Data specialist Dr Sean Manzi will consider these opportunities alongside the ethical challenges and the need to ensure an equity-driven approach.
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Capacity building for evaluation
Youth Futures Foundation has been working to build capacity for high-quality evaluation among organisations in the youth employment sector. Find out more about the strategies used to develop resources and infrastructure, some key challenges and what works best.
Speakers
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Refreshments and exhibitor viewing
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Becoming an evidence-based charity: five steps to success
Career Connect is on a journey to become an evidence-based charity and maximise impact for the young people and adults it supports. This presentation will explore:
• Different ways to use data analysis, research, insight and evaluation to enhance performance
• Creating a culture of evaluation
• Working at larger scale through research and evaluation partnerships
BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose 1A, 1B or 1C)
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1A: Using system mapping in children’s services research
Presentation
While systems thinking is increasingly used as a way of exploring complex issues, system mapping helps visualise factors involved and how they are connected. This session will introduce system mapping and its potential value in children’s services research. It will explore:
• The benefits of system mapping including its participatory and inclusive approach
• Use of system mapping to explore delicate topics
• How system mapping helps participants use systems thinking to identify action points
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1B: Evaluating Blackpool Better Start: Taking a place-based approach to systems change
Presentation
The Blackpool Better Start partnership aims to change outcomes for children and families in Blackpool for generations to come. This session will explore how data has been used to inform decision-making and how the use of community-based research approaches have supported the development, implementation and review of the programme.
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1C: Exploring data use and outcomes tracking in children’s social services
Presentation
Efforts to understand, track and measure the impact of children’s social work have received increasing focus within the sector, in academic research and at a national policy level. Social work charity Frontline commissioned Renaisi to conduct qualitative research into practices for measuring and tracking outcomes for children and families who work with a social worker. This session will explore:
• Data currently used to track outcomes within children’s services
• Perceptions of outcomes data and factors shaping their use
• Broader barriers and enablers to effective data use
Speakers
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Lunch and exhibitor viewing
Break
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Harnessing youth voices in evaluation: amplifying impact and driving change
Presentation
Discover how involving young people in evaluation can breathe life into your organisation’s impact and evaluation processes. This session will cover:
• Creative and modern approaches to unlocking youth insight
• Practical dos and don’ts for engaging young people in evaluation
• How to transform youth insights into dynamic change to enhance learning, performance and productivity
BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose 2A, 2B or 2C)
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2A: Using adverse childhood experiences to plan and evaluate support for families
Presentation
This session explores how data around Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can be used to evaluate support, understand the complexities of families and plan interventions. It will cover:
• Use of ACEs to help quantify qualitative outcomes
• Methods used to collect data and paint a picture of families in need of support
• How data helps identify gaps in services and ensures needs are met
Speakers
Family Support and Parenting Practitioner,
Bromley Children's Project, London Borough of Bromley
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2B: Evaluating an online support service
Presentation
Parent Talk is Action for Children’s virtual hub for parents and carers, offering expert advice on common parenting issues via online articles or 1:1 live chat with a parenting coach. Evaluation of the service is intended to show how Parent Talk improves outcomes and reduces need for support from publicly funded services and agencies. This session will explore evaluation methods and rationale, consider the value of co-production and present preliminary findings and recommendations.
Speakers
Assistant Professor, Department of Disability, Inclusion and Special Needs
School of Education, University of Birmingham
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2C: Theory-based impact evaluation of a small cohort supported housing scheme
Presentation
Youth Futures Foundation is funding the delivery and evaluation of the Amber Foundation’s Stop Amber Go programme, which supports homeless young people to access stable housing and enter employment. Instead of undertaking a traditional economic impact evaluation, the partners and evaluators have opted for a theory-based impact evaluation more suited to projects working with small numbers of people. This session will look at:
• Why traditional impact evaluation is not always suitable for smaller programmes
• The methodological possibilities of theory-based impact evaluation
• Strengths and weaknesses of this approach
Speakers
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Refreshments and exhibitor viewing
Break
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Evaluating access to mental health services for social care-experienced young people
Presentation
Many children and young people involved with social care services experience mental health difficulties but there is little information about factors that influence referrals and access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) for this group. This session will present findings from a major new study using data from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and will cover:
• Potential inequalities exposed by the data
• Strengths and limitations of using administrative data
• Involvement of experts by experience, practitioners and policymakers throughout the study
Speakers
Research Assistant, Department of Public Health and Primary Care
University of Cambridge
Research Assistant, Department of Public Health and Primary Care
University of Cambridge
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Sum-up and close of conference
None