Document Actions
Outcomes
These pages provide information and resources on outcomes for organisations working with homeless people. Monitoring and reporting outcomes is becoming increasingly important, particularly for funders.
Homeless Link runs the Impact through Outcomes Programme
As part of the London Housing Foundation’s planned exit strategy from work on outcomes in homelessness, Homeless Link started the transition process of the programme from May this year and will take over formally from 1st October 2008. Over the next two years, Homeless Link will be working with Triangle Consulting to integrate the programme into their core work and develop the programme further. Jenny Edwards, Chief Executive of Homeless Link said,
“Homeless Link is pleased to be taking over this programme. Work to develop an outcomes approach in the sector will inspire and support the improvement of services to prevent homelessness and change lives.”
Homeless Link is already looking after www.homelessoutcomes.org.uk and will be re-launching and further promoting the Outcomes Star and the new on-line Outcomes Star System this autumn.
Signs of Success
Homeless Link and Triangle Consulting held a conference in London on 21 October 2008 on Outcomes.
You can access all the PowerPoint presentations from the day, from a range of services including Communities and Local Government,
The Outcomes Star System
- The Outcomes Star is an interactive tool for use with clients to chart progress in a number of areas of life such as self care, mental and physical healtg, substance use, meaningful use of time and offending. There are 10 areas for exploration and keyworkers and clients work together on scales that can be used to make a visual 'Star' image of the person's present situation, to be compared with new Stars in a few months time. The Star was developed by Triangle Consulting, originally for St Mungo’s, and subsequently widely tested and revised for the London Housing Foundation. Homeless Link will be taking over this system as part of the Outcomes work from LHF.
The Homeless Outcomes website features the Star, the accompanying ladders to explain the Star points and comprehensive guides for staff and clients in its use. Find out more about the Outcomes Star System (which is free to download and use).
The Issues
- Read about measuring soft outcomes
- A Guide to managing outcomes for Homelessness Organisations by the Charities Evaluation Service is available from the Homeless Outcomes website.
Resources
- FREE training from Voluntary Action Westminster on outcomes in the London area
- In 2007 Homeless Link published a research report into the use of outcomes measurement systems in housing and homelessness organisations. Download the report.
- Resources from the SupportActionNet Conference, "Supporting vulnerable people to achieve social and emotional aspirations" are available on the SupportActionNet website. They include a presentation on Supporting People outcomes from Terrie Alafat of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
- CLG have been working with a number of providers and Lead Officers in developing a national Supporting People Outcome Framework.. Further details on how this may affect you and your service, including a very useful FAQ section can be found here.
- Improving Outcome Management is one of the core elements of the London Housing Foundation's Impact Programme.
- The Performance Hub works to help third sector organisations (charities, voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises) achieve more.
