From information chaos to valuable knowledge production Workshop: leadership Paula Saikkonen Sanna Blomgren, Pekka Karjalainen, Minna Kivipelto
Outline Introduction Analytical framework Current situation: Findings, challenges Where to go? Possibilities Conclusion THL, Paula Saikkonen 2
Effectiveness evaluation in social work What kind of evaluation and assessment are needed to make betterments in social work? KEY (tool for evaluation) Knowledge production how to utilize produced information? In everyday work, in the local decision-making, in the management etc. THL, FinSoc-team 3
Analytical Framework I (KEY) Assumption of goal oriented social work Single-case design Has anything changed in the client s life? What are best methods of social work (quantitative data)? Realistic evaluation Goals, contextual and situational factors, social work methods What are the mechanism for change triggered by a social work and how do they counteract in the existing social processes? THL, FinSoc 4
KEY the tool collect relevant information Online questionnaire for determining the effectiveness of an intervention of social work with adults. Social worker and client set the goals together Seven main categories of goals Contextual factors, social work methods, basic information Testing phase: Evaluation I and Evaluation II THL 5
LOCAL DECISION-MAKING WELFARE SERVICES KNOWLEDGE PRACTICES Administration Single-case Organization evaluation Resource allocation Online -------------------------- questionnaire Social work procedures (KEY-measure) KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION Information Evaluation Effectiveness evaluation ------------------ Research SOCIAL WORK METHODS
Research design and material KEY (testing phase in the several municipalities) Online questionnaire, planned together with social workers Client and social worker fill it together Quantitative data How to transform information into knowledge in the local decision making? Dynamics between the knowledge production and the decision-making What kind of information is a) utilized b) needed in the local decision-making? What kind of knowledge is used help with decisions? Qualitative data: combination of document material and interviews from three different Finnish municipalities (politicians, focal officers of the municipalities) THL, FinSoc-team 7
Findings Too tight budget constrains no knowledge about effectiveness of services Use of information Opportunities of ICT are missed Need of an institutional change Administrative silos, hierarchy Connection to national level; steering of the state More transparency in knowledge production is needed Conclusion; the concept of client should be broaden out THL, FinSoc-team 8
Possibilities for betterments? Clients (knowledge practices) Knowledge production Type of information Decision-makers (Database) a. Research, comparative studies b. Effectiveness evaluation (system) a. Ways to organize services b. Indicators (follow-up) Service producers, social workers (Real-time evaluation Database) Service users (Involvement in real-time evaluation, my data ) a. Process evaluation b. Effectiveness evaluation (social work) a. Process evaluation b. Effectiveness evaluation (empowerment) a. Are we doing right things? b. Knowledge about lacking services a. Access to needed services b. Impact of services Citizens, NGOs (open data, officials documents) a. Regional information b. Statements for local government Reports, initiative, Do politicians make right decisions? THL, FinSoc-team 9
What do we know? It is possible to measure effectiveness of social work. Local decision makers do not know social work too well. Income support is known much better Social work should be evaluated as a part of welfare system Evaluation should be a part of every day work (client databases) THL, FinSoc-team 10
Role of the leadership Constructing knowledge instead of gathering information Relevant data Clients participation and evaluation Possibility to get over silos Empowerment (clients as citizens) Towards cost efficiency? THL, FinSoc-team 11
Questions? paula.saikkonen@thl.fi Thank you! THL, FinSoc 12