04 Aug, 2022
Building on our work on common outcomes for families and children affected by domestic abuse and child maltreatment, the Trust’s ambition has expanded and the collaboration has grown ….
There is great inconsistency in how the experiences of children and families are defined, measured and talked about. The difficulties that arise from using many different terms and definitions to express outcomes and the impact of efforts to improve lives and life chances comes up time and again in reviews, reports and conversations. It means that too often we talk at cross-purposes and cannot compare results, build on or share our learning in a meaningful way. Consequently, we waste time, effort and money.
The For Baby’s Sake Trust has partnered with Kindred Squared and the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF), to bring together a group of organisations involved in working with children, families and communities to agree how success for them will be defined and measured. This includes What Works Centres, academics, trusts and foundations and many others working locally and at a national level. This group has identified the opportunity for those involved in outcomes work to improve consistency and collaborate with one another, including recognising the potential for a national approach to act as a ‘map’ for all efforts to improve children’s lives and prospects, acting as a point of orientation for those frameworks that focus on specific aspects of children’s lives.
As an initial review step for this collaborative effort, in early 2022 Kindred Squared commissioned:
- the development of an outline of the current situation and the case for collaborative effort
- a summary of some of the existing outcomes frameworks and sets (and related research)
- an overview of key concepts and terminology to support shared understanding and
- a high level illustration of what an overarching framework might look like for all children.
A growing group of interested parties continues to collaborate, using the outputs of the review (attached here) as the starting point for further discussion of a common approach. This will include at a local or service-specific level, exploration of how the voices and specific needs of children, families and communities could shape how success is defined and outcomes measured.
Read the summary of existing outcomes sets and frameworks for children and families here.
Our partnership work, including the joint report with Kindred Squared, sits at the core of the Children’s Commissioner’s report, published in December 2022, on establishing a common outcomes set, as part of her recommendations from the Family Review. Read more about ‘Outcomes Framework: Annex to a positive approach to parenting: Part 2 of the Independent Family Review‘ and our contribution to this report HERE.
Please do get in touch via the Kindred Squared contact form or email elainefulton@forbabyssake.org.uk if you’re interested in being involved in our continuing collaborative work to drive system change for children and families through the establishment of common outcomes.
