This seminar explored the place of outcomes-based approaches within public service reform in Scotland and their utility in the process of service reform.
Outcomes is a concept at the centre of efforts to improve public services in Scotland, across the UK and beyond. They are to what has come to be known as the Scottish Approach to Public Service Reform. The term Scottish Approach encapsulates a move within public services from top-down, service-led, reactive delivery, towards more personalised, preventative and collaborative ways of working.
Their use now permeates all parts of the public service system from frontline practice to planning, commissioning, service improvement and performance management. It is a term used across sectors and service types, from housing to education, community safety to health and social care. Outcomes-based work is based on a simple assumption; that by designing services with the end in mind better services will emerge.
There are three distinct ways in which outcomes are defined and understood, operating at different levels of a public service system:
- Programme outcomes: changes resulting from services and interventions
- Population outcomes: how things are for people
- Personal outcomes: what matters to me
Evidence on the success or otherwise of this approach is mixed; this event explored the place of outcomes-based approaches within public service reform in Scotland and their utility in the process.
Date: Wednesday, 19 April 2017
Location: St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, Glasgow
Resources
This position paper by Dr Ailsa Cook was circulated to attendees before the seminar to provide a context for discussions. It explores the concept of outcomes and their history.
Presentations
Dr Ailsa Cook presented a paper exploring the concept of outcomes and their history.
Dr Emma Miller from the University of Strathclyde discussed the use of outcomes at the level of the individual.
- People focused outcomes: What do we know from practice? presentation – Emma Miller (PDF)
- The Personal Outcomes Collaboration website has a range of resources to support the development and implementation of a personal outcomes approach in health and social care, as well as other human services.
Steven Marwick, Director of Evaluation Support Scotland, presented a paper drawing on his experience of using outcomes based approaches in developing programmes.
- Outcomes at the programme level presentation – Steven Marwick (PDF)
- See the Case study: CrossReach – Embedding evaluation in several projects on the Evaluation Support Scotland
Tim Kendrick from Fife Community Planning Partnership reflected on the role of outcomes at the population level and how they can be used to help design policy.
Discussions
Following the presentation by Ailsa Cook, the attendees were asked to discuss the question ‘Have outcomes affected the way you work and if so how?’
A further set of questions was used to provoke further discussion about implementing outcomes-based approaches in practice after the other three presentations. These questions were:
- What in your view is working well with outcomes-based approaches?
- What needs to improve?
- What do other agencies need to do?
- What will you do personally?
Event report
This event report summarises the key messages from the presentations and captures the learning and issues raised during the discussion.
It concludes with a summary of feedback about the event from participants.
Reflections and reactions
Attending this seminar this morning. Interesting to connect with colleagues from other public services in Scotland. https://t.co/JrJw3prKKr
— Fearghal Kelly (@fearghal_scel) April 19, 2017
@AilsaCook: Scotland is at the forefront of outcomes based approaches to public service reform internationally @WWScot
— Jenny Brotchie (@Jenny_Carnegie) April 19, 2017
Need to be mindful of unintended consequences of poorly conceived outcomes @AilsaCook @WWScot
— elinor findlay (@elinorfindlay) April 19, 2017
We talk about outcomes but still measure processes and targets – how do we shift the focus? @WWScot @AilsaCook
— CPWD (@CPWestDun) April 19, 2017
Emma Millar on measuring personal outcomes-the recording burden on care staff can be huge but not always about what makes life good @WWScot
— Jenny Brotchie (@Jenny_Carnegie) April 19, 2017
@WWScot outcomes based approaches in public service reform. Informative and enjoyable presentations.
— HMFSI (@HMFSI_Scotland) April 19, 2017
Sometimes we have to make a choice between performance management and an outcomes base approach says Steven Marwick @EvalSupScot @WWScot
— Jenny Brotchie (@Jenny_Carnegie) April 19, 2017
It’s not being anti-measurement; it’s about tracking #outcomes. Meaning needs to come through conversations.
— What Works Scotland (@WWScot) April 19, 2017
Completely agree @WWScot accountability has different formats https://t.co/5oAk3cC2y2
— lorraine gillies (@GilliesLorraine) April 19, 2017
Thanks to @wws for a great morning, lots of great discussion about complexity and outcomes https://t.co/xh8hCPLnET
— Ailsa cook (@AilsaCook) April 19, 2017