Developing a Local Prevention Evaluation Framework
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing a Local Prevention Evaluation Framework
IRAS ID
188650
Contact name
Jose-Luis Fernandez
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
London School of Economics and Political Science
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
More than ever, the financial constraints on English local authorities (LAs) stress the need to use social care resources in the most cost-effective way. Achieving this goal requires evidence about the effect that different interventions have on present and future care needs, outcomes and costs for different users and carers. The lack of such evidence is particularly acute with regards to prevention-related services.
The study will develop and implement an evaluation framework that enables LAs in England to use their local administrative records and information systems to assess the impact of different preventative interventions on future costs and outcomes.The study will last three years, it will establish collaborations with social care and health care organisations in nine local authorities, and will use a mixed methods approach. Using case study methods, the study will gain in-depth understandings of the care policies, processes and structures in the localities studied. Data will be collected and analysed from semi-structured interviews and documentary sources. Econometric methods will be used to analyse (at the individual and/or geographic levels) the relationship between different types of social care interventions and costs and outcomes through time. Findings will be used to draft recommendations for the development and implementation of a general prevention evaluation framework. The study will therefore generate new evidence about the prevention effects of different interventions, will identify key principles for the use of local administrative systems to monitor prevention-related interventions, and thus will support local policy makers across England to target resources in the most efficient and equitable way.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
15/IEC08/0052
Date of REC Opinion
23 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion