1. Local Evaluation into Practice Creating an Effective Evaluation Programme Lynnette Chapman, Community Evaluation Unit, Somerset NHS

2. Background Sure Start Bridgwater (Trailblazer) Sure Start West Somerset (Round 4) Sure Start Taunton (Round 5) Community Evaluation Unit. Based in NHS Evaluation Unit, Taunton.

3. What is Effective Evaluation? Understanding how well Sure Start services are performing. Assessing progress towards objectives/targets Making changes to programme as a result of the local evaluation findings Source: NESS

4. Question If effective evaluation involves shaping and influencing the direction of a local Sure Start programme, how can we ensure that this happens?

5. Shaping Sure Start Programmes Some Examples Library services Speech and Language Services Community Questionnaire

6. Effective Evaluation: Important Characteristics Knowing the Programme Evaluative Culture Evaluative Style Opportunities for Shaping the Programme Reporting

7. Knowing the Programme Close working with PM and staff Regular contact (team mtgs) Opportunities for evaluation ideas Aware of issues at all levels (MMG/team) Evaluate according to need (which may change!) Evaluation findings put into context

8. Evaluative Culture Think Evaluation! Evaluation as positive Involvement and ownership by staff Raising awareness of evaluation

9. Evaluation Style Approachable Responsive to need Research methods –Innovative and open to new approaches –Rapid review/depth studies/visual Evaluation integrated not add on Local but independent

10. Opportunities for Evaluation to help shape the Programme Evaluation input into decision making and shaping of services Close working with senior staff Two way process - evaluation staff/management Awareness of key issues/evaluation questions

11. Reporting Accessible and clear reports - interesting! Present or discuss findings with appropriate key staff Impact of results should be ongoing - not just report, but reinforce, can offer reminders of the evaluation findings to shape services.

12. Challenges Time –attend meetings –building evaluation culture and opportunities –getting to know Sure Start programmes Responsive yet need to plan evaluation activity Keeping up with changes in the programme

13. Conclusions Shaping Sure Start programmes –More than just distributing evaluation findings Knowing the Programme Evaluation Culture Evaluation Style Opportunities for Shaping Reporting