NDTi Evaluation of the Independent Support programme
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of Independent Support in England; application for ethical approval of planned fieldwork in Phases 3 and 4.
IRAS ID
169407
Contact name
Helen Bown
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
The Department for Education (DfE) and the Council for Disabled Children (CDC) have commissioned NDTi to design and deliver an independent evaluation to run alongside, and inform the development and delivery of, the Independent Support Programme (a major transformation programme through which voluntary, community sector and private organisations are recruiting, training and deploying a pool of “independent supporters” to provide additional support to help the families of children and young people through the newly reformed processes in education, health and care services.)
NDTi’s 5 phase evaluation focuses on the question of “what works (in independent support), for whom, in which circumstances, how and why?”
This application for ethical review relates to Phases 3 and 4 of the evaluation, when we will be carrying out qualitative research in sample of 12 sites (and then focussing in on 6), speaking with a mix of stakeholders at each site in order to investigate:
- how different models of independent support are implemented locally;
- if and how different groups of children, young people and families benefit
- the roles that partnership working and other delivery arrangements play in achieving outcomes for children and families;
- the immediate and longer term impacts of the programme for service provision and local authorities;
- the cost and value implications of these factors for different stakeholders, including local and central government.
- emerging examples of good practice, highlighting how these have achieved outcomes and the transferable lessons that can be adopted for children, young people and families in very different circumstances and localities.
The evaluation findings and evidence of outcomes and impacts will be used to inform future decisions and investments around independent support, in the context of wider SEND reforms, so that policy and service developments are designed and implemented in the most effective way.REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
15/IEC08/0011
Date of REC Opinion
16 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion