Transcript Slide 1

Local Authority Research
Consortium: Making a
Difference to Services for
Children
What is LARC ?
A collaborative partnership between organisations, LAs and
researchers to draw together evidence and shared learning about
the early impact of integrated children’s services
The partners are: 24 (30) LAs, RiP, NFER, EMIE at NFER, with support
from IDeA, LGA, CWDC and DCSF
The project has a formal governance framework, project protocols
and pooled funding
• LARC Round 1: March 2007 – April 2008
• LARC Round 2: September 2008 – December 2009
• LARC Round 3: February 2010 – December 2010
2
From LARC 1 to LARC 3
Progressive
focusing (from
early impact of
integrated
children’s
services to costeffectiveness of
CAF)
Build research
intelligence and
capacity in LAs
Identify what
works, for
whom and in
what
circumstances –
transferable
messages
NFER impact model
4
3
2
1
Institutional/systemic
embedding
Changes to outcomes
Changes to routines, experiences,
attitudes
Changes to inputs/processes
[Morris and
Golden, 2005]
LARC 1: (E.g.) Integrated working and LAC
Quicker, more coordinated response,
greater range of support
Children feel happier, safer
Improved social relationships and
improved self-esteem
Policy context and LARC
Organisation and
effectiveness of
front line services
The Laming Report
2020 Children’s Workforce Strategy
Ofsted
unannounced
inspections (CAFs
over 12 months)
Early intervention
and prevention
Children’s Plan
LARC2
Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and
Learning Act
Healthy Lives, Brighter Futures
Role and
effectiveness of
CAF
Joint leadership
and
accountability
CWDC updated guidance
National eCAF project (from spring
2010)
Engagement of
schools and other
local services
The research questions for LARC 2
Does the CAF process
support the achievement of
better outcomes for children
and young people?
What are the key factors
that promote the
effectiveness of CAF in
different contexts?
Rationale
The study of the CAF was a proxy for exploring the
impact of integrated working in Children’s Services.
Looking at the CAF process helped to provide
insights into the impact that integrated practice in
children’s services had on:




children and young people
their families
the professionals who worked with them
the services themselves
The challenges…
No theoretical framework for integrated working
Each LA working in a different context…
…with different priorities
Sign-up by DCS – managed and conducted by
operational staff
What works for
whom and in what
circumstances
Theory
These are framed
in terms of
• Mechanisms
• Contexts
• Outcomes
The LARC approach:
Realistic evaluation
Programme
specification
Hypotheses
Based on Pawson and Tilley, 1997
Multi-method data
collection and
analysis on M, C, O
Observations
What might work
for whom and in
what
circumstances
The research process
Overall research
question (CAF
process)
Chosen theme
(schools)
Other themes
Group
hypotheses (e.g.
KS3)
Individual LA
work
Individual LA
work
LARC picture
(CAF process)
Conclusions and
recommendations
Group findings (e.g.
KS3)
Individual LA
learning
Individual LA
learning
Timetable
Thematic
conclusions
• December (2008)
Workshops to
finalise
propositions
Supported
research in
LAs
• January to July
(2009)
• March (2009)
• June (2009)
Thematic
workshops
• September
(2009)
(Dartington)
• December
(2009) (draft
report)
• January (2010)
London
conference
Context and outcome groups
Children’s Trust
arrangements
Early years
Non-attenders (Key
Stage 3)
At risk of negative
outcomes
LAs (total)
Lead Professional
Role
Engaging children,
young people and
families
Context and outcome groups
Children’s Trust
arrangements
Lead Professional
Role
Engaging children,
young people and
families
2
0
2
Non-attenders (Key
Stage 3)
2
4
1
At risk of negative
outcomes
7
3
3
11
7
6
Early years
LAs (total)
Impact of LARC 2?
On understanding the
impact of CAF locally
On practice
On capacity building
Clearer insights into
who is doing CAF
More strategic use of
CAF
Better training for lead
professionals
Identification of
strategies that have
helped engage schools
– and other agencies
Increasing the amount
of early intervention
and prevention work
Closer integration of
research and practice
Identification of what
works
Greater sharing of
findings to help
embedding
Creating user
participation groups
What does LARC 2 research tell us about
integrated working?
supported better
coordination of
services and joint
working to improve
the outcomes for
children, young
people and families
improved
commitment to
early intervention
and prevention
across multi-agency
groups
improved
understanding and
appreciation of the
roles, remits and
support offered by
different services.
progress is clearly
being made in
engaging agencies
in joint work – but
more needs to be
done
Early findings suggest that the CAF process appears to have:
Where next for LARC (3)?
Invest to
save?
Time and
resources
Status
quo
Cost-effectiveness of CAF?
For further details about the findings,
please contact:
W: www.larc-research.org.uk
E: [email protected]
T: 01753 523 156
For further information about
LARC3, please contact Jane Lewis:
[email protected]