Moving to a framework of outcomes for young people

1. Moving to a framework of outcomes for young people Community Action Southwark January 15th 2013 Gemma Rocyn Jones For the Catalyst consortium, the Department for Education's strategic partner for young people

2. Structure Context and background The ambition for the Framework What it isn’t… ….what it is (and how we got there) Questions Making it real Discussion and reflection

3. Research – emerging social needs and how to innovate to meet them Collaborations – piloting innovations in public services Advising governments – on supporting innovation and social entrepreneurship Social ventures – supporting and spinning out start-ups What is the young foundation

4. The catalyst consortium

5. Where did we start • Not all youth sector providersare: • Considering their impact as part of their core business; or • Presenting outcomes in a consistent way. The sector lacks a common language and good process for sharing knowledge • Not all investors are: • Accounting for social impact in a way that is appropriate for the youth sector when making investment decisions; or • Asking investees to report on their social impact. • Not all commissioners are: • Specifying social outcomes in tenders; or • Accounting for social impact in a ‘smart’ way when buying goods and services.

6. Along the way… “There is little doubt that good youth services can have a transformational effect on young people's lives and often play a vital role in supporting both vulnerable young people and those without particular disadvantage. However, we find that many services are unable or unwilling to measure the improvements they make in outcomes for young people. The lack of a common measurement framework across the sector makes it extremely difficult for authorities to decide which services to fund. Although we accept that 'you know good youth work when you see it', we believe it is essential that publicly funded services are able to demonstrate what difference they make to young people. Some robust but sophisticated tools are already in existence which allow services to do this, but agreement is needed on a common set of standards.” Education Select Committee Inquiry into Youth Services, 2011

7. What’s our ambition for the framework? Bold, yet flexible Straight forward to use whilst also reasonably robust Based on a coherent ‘theory of change’ Evidence the difference made to young people’s lives Use of a common language to promote consistent measurement Accepted by key champions amongst commissioners, providers and social investors

8. What is it not? The answer A silver bullet A measurement tool A performance management framework A training programme A new way of doing things Specific to youth work

9. The framework of outcomes aims to underpin answers to five key questions 1. What are we trying to achieve? To build consensus on what we aim to achieve with and for young people 2.What difference do services make? To measure the change in outcomes from services for young people 3.Why should someone commission, fund or invest in a service? To articulate the value of a youth service or programme 4. With limited resource, who and what is our focus? To target and tailor support for different young people 5. How can we make the biggest difference for young people? To inform practice and the sector’s development

10. Outcomes: what matters?

11. Key to our approach is a link between capabilities, intrinsic & extrinsic outcomes

12. …that can be summarised as a relationship between extrinsic outcomes and social & emotional capabilities

13. Which is supported by a strong evidence base

14. At the heart of the outcomes framework are 7 clusters of capabilities

15. How might this outcomes model work for you?

16. What’s the point? Improving quality – understanding what works… and what doesn’t Building confidence and endorsing professionalism Learning and building the evidence base Demonstrating success and securing/informing investment

17. Matrix of tools • Confidence in links between clusters and extrinsic outcomes is only part of the story… • Consistently and robustly measuring the difference is vital • We have collated information on commonly-used and referenced measurement tools • Information includes an overview of which clusters are covered; the cost of using the tool; and the robustness of the underlying evidence base

18. Stages in using the framework

19. Using the framework Starting with an outcomes focus, based on analysis of need and trajectory Mapping outcomes and identifying clusters Designing services and developing the theory of change Establishing an approach to measurement, and selecting a tool Reviewing and growing the evidence base

20. Theories of change – the missing link? • “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there” • Alice in Wonderland

21. Theory of change

22. Logic models

23. Deciding on your approach to measurement What is the question you are seeking to answer? What standards of evidence do you want to achieve? What about proportionality? Who are you working with, and how? What outcomes are you focused on? What resources are available?

24. The outcomes framework in positive for youth Become ‘industry standard’ common language around outcomes Develop greater awareness of the evidence that links personal capabilities to extrinsic outcomes Signpost investors, funders, commissioners and providers to a range of tools that can be used to measure progress in developing these capabilities Build confidence in focusing on personal and social development outcomes Encourage robust demonstration and articulation of impact

25. What does this mean for me? • For my organisation? • For my partners? • For my region?

26. The framework in action We are currently working with three youth organisations who are piloting the use of the Outcomes Framework in their impact assessment:

27. What needs to happen next?

28. Stay in touch:bethia.mcneil@youngfoundation.org@the_young_fdnwww.youngfoundation.org44 (0)7908 010264