Local Evaluation of Children's Services Learning from the Children's ...
Local Evaluation of Children's Services Learning from the Children's ...
Local Evaluation of Children's Services Learning from the Children's ...
- No tags were found...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
The importance <strong>of</strong> providing findings that are relevant, useful, timely and accessibleto a range <strong>of</strong> stakeholders appears to be widely recognised by local evaluators, as is<strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> providing realistic recommendations to partnerships. Many localevaluators regarded ongoing dialogue with partnerships as critical to successfullyinfluencing <strong>the</strong>ir work through engagement in partnership structures such asevaluation sub-groups or disseminating material through events, ra<strong>the</strong>r than simplywriting reports for strategic audiences. Indeed, running events may be a moreinclusive way <strong>of</strong> disseminating <strong>the</strong>ir findings to strategic stakeholders as well as frontlineservice providers and service users including children and young people.However, it is evident that many local evaluators have, in practice, experienceddifficulties influencing <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> partnerships’ strategies and practices, orare unclear about how <strong>the</strong>ir findings have been translated into strategies andpractice. Some evaluators suggested <strong>the</strong>y had experienced difficulties maintaining<strong>the</strong>ir independence, in reporting on negative aspects <strong>of</strong> partnerships’ work or thatpartnerships had drawn on evaluation material selectively to demonstrate <strong>the</strong>successful aspects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir work or to legitimise decisions. This was seen in <strong>the</strong>context <strong>of</strong> pressures <strong>from</strong> ongoing change nationally and within local authority areas.Partnership board members’ multiple priorities and <strong>the</strong>ir commitments to <strong>the</strong>ir ownagencies and o<strong>the</strong>r partnerships meant <strong>the</strong>y were unable to act on evaluationfindings or had insufficient time to do so. This highlights <strong>the</strong> challenge that localevaluators have had in providing material that is relevant and useful to partnershipswhilst having <strong>the</strong> space to produce balanced, independent accounts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>partnerships’ work.62Conclusions