Findings from the Innovation Fund Evaluation James Ronicle, York Consulting 2 nd May, 2012
Dec 14, 2014
Findings from the Innovation Fund Evaluation
James Ronicle, York Consulting2nd May, 2012
Overview of Presentation
• Background to the Innovation Fund• Support Delivered and the Benefits• Challenges in Delivering Support• How Challenges Were/Could be Overcome• Impact of Support on Families
Also drawing on York Consulting’s wider work in area: Evaluation of Family and Young Carer Pathfinders (DfE) Evaluation of Young Carers Grant (Carers Trust) Evaluation of Sheffield Young Carers Steering Group Evaluation of Blackpool Young Carers
Background to the Innovation Fund £1m from DCSF 2010-11, co-ordinated
by NYCC & managed by Carers Trust: 20 Young Carer projects funded
across England, receiving on average £40,000. Expanded service to provide support for whole family. Delivered support to just under 600 young carers & their families.
Evaluation involved:
Analysis of Outcomes
Data
Case Study Visits to 6 Projects
Review of Project
Documents
Telephone Interviews with all 20
Projects
“To reduce the amount of excessive or harmful care undertaken by young carers under the age of 18, through the adoption of a whole family approach by selected Young Carer Projects in England.”
Types of Support Delivered
Whole Family
Approach
Whole Family Support
Family Group Conferencing
Therapeutic Support
Whole Family Positive
Activities
Whole Family SupportG
louc
este
rshi
re FSW RoleFamily visits to agree action planDirect emotional & practical supportDraw-in & liaise with other agencies (e.g. Adult Mental Health, Substance Misuse, schools)
Blac
kpoo
l Out-of-hours (evenings & weekend) provision to provide point of contact during crises
Overview• Family Support Worker Role• Whole Family Assessments• Team Around the Family (TAF) Meetings
Benefits• Better understanding of family• Improved support package for family• Improved family engagement
Family Group Conferencing• Family based decision making• Immediate & wider family take lead in drawing up
Action Plan• Services play supporting role
Overview
• Empowers family• Reduces caring role by drawing in wider family• Gives young carers a voice in support plan• Greater understanding of family
Benefits
Barnardo’s Voices• Central FGC service offered to many
young carer projects
Barnardo’s Liverpool• ‘Message in a Bottle’ embedded into
FGC• Key info stored in bottle to aid
services during crises
Therapeutic Support
Overview
• “Rich, open, tough, relevant family-centred discussions” (PM)• Support sessions delivered to groups of families• Focused on range of issues:• Mental health• Stress• Bereavement• Sometimes involved expert practitioners (CAMHS, doctors)
Benefit
s
• Plugged a gap in support below thresholds• Improved communication & understanding between family members• Reduced stress• Created support networks (often sustained)
Kidstime
• Action for Children Thanet & Canterbury
• Supported parents with mental health difficulties
• Opportunity for adults to talk• Creative sessions to improve
young carers’ understanding:• Pass the
parcel• Making brains
with vegetables• Treasure hunt• ‘Superhero’
puppets
Stress-Busting Course
• Eastern Ravens Trust• Weekly arts & crafts sessions
to provide respite & place to talk
• ‘Stress busting bag’ given to families:
• Relaxation techniques booklet
• Stress balls• Visualisation
techniques• Healthy
recipes
Bereavement Support
• St Michael’s & St Christopher’s Hospices
• Support for young carer and family with family member near bereavement
• Creative methods to aid emotive discussions:
• ‘Volcanoes’ & ‘Journeys’ representing emotions
• Music therapy
Whole Family Positive ActivitiesOverview
• Family Fun days• Weekend residentials• Weekly positive activities (e.g. coffee mornings)• Focused support for individual families
Benefits• Improved family relationships• Reduced stress• Better understanding of family• Improved family engagement
Get Cooking• Action for Children Dudley • Cookery classes for young carers• Family invited at end to share meal
Focused Support for Families with Mental Health• Barnardo’s Carefree• Support families to engage in positive
activities in community independently• Volunteer supports family overcoming
barriers to positive activities
Challenges in Delivery
Appropriately Skilled
Workforce
Engaging Families
Level of Resources
Engaging Other
Agencies
Overcoming the Challenges• Extensive development & training• Ensure recruiting practitioners with wide experience in children’s and
adult services• Second practitioners from adult services to create multi-agency team
Appropriately Skilled Workforce
• Key is building trust:• Large amounts of contact time• Whole family positive activities to introduce the service• Practical tasks first
Engaging Families
• Factor in time:• Before activity for planning• After activity for follow-up
Level of Resources
• Engage with senior managers• Regular contact
Engaging Other Agencies
Impact
Impact on FamiliesImproved Well-being
Reduced Isolation
Improved Family Functioning
Greater Understanding of Issues
Increased Resilience
Improved Happiness
Greater support from wider agencies
• Reduced caring roles in a third of families• Improved ability to cope with caring role in a
third of families
Pre-Support Post-Support
44%
61%
39%
29%
17%10%
Percentage of Young Carers Reporting Concerns with their Ability to Cope with their Caring Role Pre- and
Post-Support
No Concern Of Concern Of Major Concern
Impact on Young Carers
FEEDBACK FROM PARENTS
I’m really grateful for the care worker support – I was struggling and didn’t want my son to have
to do all that for me.
It made you feel closer as a family. It brought me and my son closer.
My family are hopeful of our future and I am feeling more positive.
FEEDBACK FROM YOUNG CARERS
I used to be angry at school everyday. I would shout for no reason. Now I’m nowhere near as
angry as I used to be.
After we got back, mum’d be happy and bubbly, that put me in a good mood – it felt good that
she’s happier.
Thank you for giving back our family.
Conclusion
• Innovation Fund showcased voluntary sector’s added value to whole family working. Very innovative approaches in a ‘family-friendly’ environment.
• Further demonstrated that supporting the whole family can reduce caring responsibilities.
But…
• Approach can be challenging and requires significant commitment from both young carer service and other agencies.