Case Example Organisational Learning Champions Gallery Measuring Social Value: The Angus Wellbeing Web Committed to the principles of outcomes-based planning and accountability, Angus Council has developed the Wellbeing Web; a simple, visual technique for measuring outcomes for children and families, and for understanding the value of services. The outcomes measurement tool has now been rolled out across public and third sector services in Angus, and is already having positive results. The ultimate goal is to use the tool to establish appropriate outcomes for service users, fully understand the impact of service outcomes, and how services can be designed and commissioned for maximum impact. Background Angus Council is committed to working with statutory and third sector partners to achieve better futures for all local children and young people. Critical to getting it right for every child is putting the child s well-being at the centre of things, ensuring that planned outcomes are clear and measured, and ensuring that (collectively) services are of value to children and families. Committed to the principles of outcomes-based planning and accountability, Angus Council dedicated itself to developing a simple, visual tool that would help in planning and measuring service user outcomes, while producing evidence that could show service outcomes and value. The development of this tool was built upon a number of important foundations: It built on evidence from a previous two-year action research initiative Link-Up which examined the outcomes for children affected by parental substance misuse in Angus. It was developed to ensure relevance and compliance with the Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) national practice model and outcomes 1. It drew on the experience of existing models for capturing outcomes. Most notably Outcomes Star, although a bespoke tool was required for the purposes of the Council. It was designed and piloted with children, parents and practitioners (public and third sector). The feedback from children (aged 4-16), parents affected by substance misuse, and the practitioners that administered the tool was overwhelmingly positive. The ambition of the Council was to develop an outcomes tool that would be flexible enough to be used in a variety of settings with a range of people. Scope and focus The Angus Wellbeing Web has now been developed as an interactive tool to be used by practitioners in conjunction with children and parents. It captures specific outcomes for individuals, and enables them to recognise where they are, where they would like to be, and what steps they need to take to get there. It is based 1 For further information see: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/people/young- People/gettingitright Social Value Case Studies The Angus Wellbeing Web 1
on an affirmative coaching model focusing on people s potential rather than their problems. The tool uses the Getting It Right for every Child (GIRFEC) indicators of wellbeing to guide discussion about key areas of an individual s life. It has eight points which each reflect an indicator of general wellbeing: I am safe; I am healthy; I am achieving; I feel nurtured; I am active; I feel respected; I am responsible; and I feel included. Its function is to provoke discussion about issues and create a graphic scale which shows the individual s progress and journey of change. Implementation The Wellbeing Web was piloted between October and December 2011, and subsequently refined and launched in May 2012. The initial launch event was attended by 120 policy makers and practitioners, and the outcomes tool is steadily being rolled out across settings and services. Around 50% of Children s Services practitioners are now using the tool. It is also being used in school settings and is being adopted by third sector providers and starting to be used by health visitors. Within Children s Services the Wellbeing Web is being used as part of the multiagency staged intervention process for children. It is designed to be used as soon as possible after a new individual becomes involved with the service. Practitioners work with either a child or a parent to rate how they feel about the eight areas of wellbeing; prompt cards break down the eight high-level wellbeing outcome indicators into tangible concepts relevant to children and parents. Often explored as part of the care planning process, this helps to create a baseline against which to measure progress and change. The Wellbeing Web assessment exercise is then repeated again at a later time to chart any changes. This helps visualise how children and parents are feeling but can also be used as a tool to reflect on progress over time as their scores on the Wellbeing Web change. Information from the outcomes is contextualised by the practitioner and outcomes are subsequently defined which can then be recorded within the child s (and/or adult s) plan. The format and structure of the data then lends itself to aggregation across service user caseloads and services. This has the potential to reveal the extent to which individual and service outcomes are being delivered, and the extent to which the service is intervening effectively, contributing to desired outcomes and creating value for service users. Likewise, knowing where progress is not happening as planned can help to identify the need for more resources or for changes in the way services are delivered. Key challenges The Wellbeing Web has been widely welcomed by service users, practitioners and providers alike. The approach, however, is still developing and a number of main challenges being overcome: Consistent use of the tool. Despite providing guidance on use of the Wellbeing Web, inevitably there are variations in practice. These arise where practitioners interpretation of the wellbeing outcomes and application of the tool differ, and can only be addressed through more detailed communication and training to support its use. Co-ordinating implementation and use. Given the multiple challenges they are facing, children and their parents often come into contact with a number of service providers. The challenge here is to ensure that there is a seamless Social Value Case Studies The Angus Wellbeing Web 2
process of assessment and review for individuals (supported by the Wellbeing Web) as they engage with multiple services. Opting out. At present there is no compulsion for either service users or practitioners to make use of the Wellbeing Web. This makes it difficult to produce a comprehensive picture of service outcomes. However, this must be balanced with the need for all parties to positively engage in the process. There must also be recognition that there are a range of other outcomes tools available that may be appropriate to use, dependent on individual need and circumstances. Involving third sector providers. Third sector providers have welcomed and acknowledged the value in the Wellbeing Web approach. However, given the competing reporting requirements of funders, and the existence of already well embedded systems for outcomes measurement, it has proven challenging to get a critical mass of third sector providers using the Wellbeing Web. Understanding service-level impact. While the tool is now in widespread use, the full potential of the Wellbeing Web as a performance management tool is not well developed. Practitioners currently agree within their agency how they will collate and record information captured as part of the approach. Further development is therefore required to record, aggregate and report on outcomes, and to draw conclusions about the effectiveness and impact within and across services. Outcomes Still at a relatively early stage in its use across services, the Wellbeing Web is already bringing some important benefits. For Angus Council the approach has: Provided a framework based on the GIRFEC outcome indicators for all services and agencies working with children and families to deliver a coordinated approach which is appropriate, proportionate and timely. Reinforced the outcomes-focus on the service, led to a better understanding of the outcomes being achieved by workers, and helped to reduce time spent on inappropriate or unnecessary monitoring. For practitioners (statutory and third sector) the approach has: Supported a more positive and focused engagement with children and adults, with the tool being used to help recognise individuals progress, increase motivation, and unblock challenges to moving forward. Helped to enhance professional judgement and practice, by providing practitioners with a greater sense of how their intervention is leading to changes in professional practice. For individual children and parents, the approach has: Been an empowering experience, enabling them to be more directive about the changes necessary in their lives and better understand their progress. Promoted parents understanding of work being done with their children, and ensured a holistic family approach and progress. The simplicity, relevance and potential offered by the Wellbeing Web have brought it to the attention of others. Already 25 other Scottish local authorities (and a similar number of third sector providers) have examined and discussed with Angus council ways to make use of the tool. With the potential Social Value Case Studies The Angus Wellbeing Web 3
to roll out and extend the use of the tool, there is therefore the possibility of a wider ripple effect from this local initiative. Critical success factors There are a number of main factors that have contributed to the development of this well-rounded and actionable framework: The area. The relatively contained size of the local authority area, the manageable number of practitioners and providers locally, and relatively close working relationships evident mean that it is a more achievable task to design and roll out an outcomes tool that is cable of widespread and consistent use. Leadership. The development of the tool has benefited greatly from an enabling environment. This included strong leadership from the Alcohol and Drug Partnership and Child Protection Committee sub-group that co-ordinated its development; the commitment of the Service Manager within Social Work and Health that led on its design and roll out; and the enthusiasm and commitment of practitioners that have championed and helped spread its use. Simplicity. The Wellbeing Web has been designed to be simple and intuitive to understand, and it is suitable for use with children and adults. For example, the pilot scheme undertaken in Angus highlighted that the wellbeing web was being used effectively with children between the ages of 4 and 16 years old and also with their parents. Holistic. The model is solution-focused in its approach and invites collaborative working between individuals and practitioners. The process fully engages the child and their carer in identifying the outcomes most important to them and whilst this must be balanced with the broader assessment of need, this can be used as motivational enhancement in direct work. Grounded. The Wellbeing Web has been grounded both in the relevant policy context, with the GIRFEC wellbeing indicators providing a means to examine individual change and service contribution in relation to national priorities. The tool has also been developed and tested with the needs and experience of service users in mind. Guided. A reasonably detailed guide to using the tool and standard protocols for use are in place to ensure consistent use across public and third sector services. This comes in an attractive hard copy format (supported by downloadable guidance and templates) which has been made available to all practitioners. These factors provide a solid basis on which to further develop the approach. Future ambitions Angus Council now regards the Wellbeing Web as a tool with significant potential to plan, manage, and strengthen service outcomes. Further development of the approach is now planned, with some immediate considerations to address: Finding effective ways to make use of the service-level outcomes data that the Wellbeing Web is capable of generating. Angus Council is now part of a pilot action learning set facilitated by IRISS (the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services) focused on improving the aggregation and use of performance data. Ensuring consistency in use of the tool across services. There is much more for the Council and partners to do to increase familiarity, consistency and integrated use of the Wellbeing Web. This will rely on continued communication and training to ensure Social Value Case Studies The Angus Wellbeing Web 4
that all practitioners are clear on its applications and use. Further consideration will also be given to how the tool can be applied in a multiagency context; ensuring that it provides a framework to guide, plan and review interventions across services. Over the longer term a process of continued refinement to the Wellbeing Web is anticipated. This might mean, for example, adapting the tool to ensure that it is more visual, interactive, and accessible for people with additional communication needs. Ultimately, the goal is to use the tool to fully understand the service outcomes that are being delivered through Children s Services, how these outcomes are shaped by various interventions, and how services can be designed and commissioned for maximum impact. For further information, contact: Hazel Robertson Service Manager Social Work and Health P: Angus Council, 9 Castle Street, Forfar, DD8 3AE T: 01307 473751 E: RobertsonHG@angus.gov.uk Social Value Case Studies The Angus Wellbeing Web 5