Outcomeapproach

An outcomes approach in social care
and support: an overview of current
frameworks and tools
A briefing from CCPS, HSEU and VSSSWU
October 2010

The purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to various models and tools
associated with adopting an outcomes approach within social care and support
settings. This will provide information to organisations thinking about adopting
such an approach as well as provide a basis from which to invite organisations to
share their experiences of using or developing outcomes frameworks and the tools
associated with them.
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.





Background
Outcomes in a social care and support context
Outcomes as opposed to outputs
Relating Outcomes with financial inputs
Promoting change and demonstrating impact
Outcome frameworks and tools
6.1 Better Futures
6.2 Talking Points
6.3 ASCOT
6.4 Outcomes Evaluation for Children and Young People Experiencing Domestic

Abuse

6.5 REACH Standards in Supported Living

6.6 Realist Evaluation aka Real Time Evaluation

6.7 SROI

6.8 Outcomes Star

6.9 Carista/Intrelate

6.10 Leading for Outcomes, IRISS
7. Concluding remarks
8. Quick reference table

housingsupport
e n a b l i n g u n it

1. Background
Commissioners of services and organisations delivering social care and support
services are under increasing pressure to demonstrate the impact of services in
terms of service user outcomes. In 2006 the Scottish Executive stated that ‘Our
national priorities must be about outcomes - the real improvements that people see
in their communities and in their lives - better health, reduced crime and anti social
behaviour, an improved environment and increased educational attainment’.1 Since
then, national outcomes have been developed, and a requirement placed on local
authorities to lay out local priorities and report on them within a Single Outcomes
Agreement2. Whilst social care and support outcomes tend not...