Using soft outcomes to improve homelessness services and demonstrate impact

21 October 2008, London

A Homeless Link & Triangle Consulting conference

It is important that the voluntary sector demonstrates its impact. Outcomes measurement enables us to show the value of our services to commissioners and funders, but also to help service users recognise their progress and achievement. Combining the Government perspective with the cutting edge of practice, this conference cut through the complexity and helped to provide simple solutions to help service managers and commissioners make evidencing success a reality within the homelessness.

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Outcomes Star

The Outcomes Star system: http://www.outcomesstarsystem.org.uk

Or try the system out first before registering at: http://test.outcomesstarsystem.org.uk

Click here to download the Outcomes Star manuals

Any enquires email: beth.coyne@homelesslink.org.uk or lisa.reed@homelesslink.org.uk

Conference Presentations

Plenary sessions

• Demonstrating impact at all levels - Dominic Williamson, Homeless Link
• Setting the national context: the role of outcomes - Tom Surrey, CLG
• The benefits of focusing service delivery on the client - Joy MacKeith, Triangle Consulting
• Launch of the Outcomes Star System
• View from the homelessness sector - Liz Harper, St Mungos

Workshops

• WK1: Putting outcomes at the centre of your organisation - Presentation from Croftlands
• WK2: Outcomes and commissioning - Presentation from Camden Local Authority
• WK2: Outcomes and commissioning - Presentation from Triangle Consulting
• WK4: Shaping policy and practice: the role of outcomes - Presentation from NCVO
• WK5: Using outcomes data for learning and service improvement - Presentation from CLG
• WK5: Using outcomes data for learning and service improvement - Presentation from St Mungos
• WK6: Outcomes & Local Area Agreements - Presentation from Broadland District Council

Delegates had the opportunity to:

• learn how to measure outcomes and evidence success in a way that is positive and motivational within keywork
• understand the important role that outcomes play in securing both statutory and nonstatutory funding
• discuss how to embed the outcomes approach within an organisation
• consider how outcomes can help identify and develop good practice
• examine the role of outcomes and data extraction within commissioning
• find out how to use outcomes information to demonstrate contribution to Local Area Agreement targets
• view the on-line Outcomes Star System for the first time.

By hearing from service users, managers, commissioners and central government, the event aimed to provide participants with a uniquely rounded picture of the challenges and benefits of working with outcomes plus practical ideas for moving forward within their own organisation.

It was an opportunity to be trained on how to implement and use outcomes and for staff to start to assess changes in their clients that occur as a result of their work. It also allows you to draw together the information on a number of clients and give an overview of the change being achieved for a whole project. If implemented widely within the sector, it will provide greater consistency and a clearer picture of the sector as a whole.

Conference Programme

• 9.30 Registration and tea/coffee
• 10.00 Morning plenary session
• 11.10 Coffee/tea break
• 11.30 Morning workshops
• Workshop 1: Putting outcomes at the centre of your organisation
• Workshop 2: Outcomes and commissioning
• Workshop 3: Outcomes in key-work: service user and worker perspectives
• Workshop 4: Shaping policy and practice: the role of outcomes
• 12.45 Lunch
• 13.50 Afternoon workshops
• Workshop 1: Putting outcomes at the centre of your organisation
• Workshop 2: Outcomes and commissioning
• Workshop 5: Using outcomes data for learning and service improvement
• Workshop 6: Outcomes and Local Area Agreements
• 15.05 Coffee/tea break
• 15.20 Afternoon plenary session
• 16.00 Conference close

Signs of success was the third in a series of conferences on outcomes in homelessness. The previous two conferences were organised by the London Housing Foundation as part of its Impact through Outcomes Programme. This programme is now managed by Homeless Link. Programme delivery remains with Triangle Consulting.