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This paper describes the
outcomes of the “Action Planning” stage of an action research project
utilising a search conference for the purposes of organisational
development. The aim
of the project was the design of a methodology to facilitate the
evaluation of a complex and multi-faceted partnership. The research
centred on multi-agency partnership working within Children’s Services
Planning (CSP) in the Southern Health and Social Services Board’s area in
Northern Ireland. More specifically the evaluation framework was required
to allow judgements to be made about the overall effectiveness of the
collaboration, facilitate debate about its sustainability and future
direction and identify clearly defined areas for improvement, development
and learning. In addition the development and use of the framework had to
contribute to the wider debate about whether collaborative working adds
value and, in the context of the Children’s Services Planning partnership,
is the best mechanism for the delivery of improved outcomes for children
and young people. The resulting evaluation framework is structured in
terms of seven interconnected dimensions with associated sub-dimensions
and assessment criteria. This assessment and improvement tool is designed
to determine the extent to which the partnership has:
§
added value and achieved a greater impact
than would have been achieved without its existence;
§
developed a shared and cohesive vision as an
outcome of effective leadership;
§
developed appropriate structures, processes,
resources and a culture inducive to collaboration:
§
developed effective processes for strategic
and performance measurement;
§
influenced effectively at different levels to
bring about change;
§
promoted the involvement of key stakeholders
in collaborative action; and
§
operated cost effectively.
The
framework is underpinned by the concept of a virtuous circle formed by
evaluation, learning, improvement, measurement, and back to evaluation.
Keywords: Evaluation, evaluation framework, partnership working, collaboration,
action research, Children’s Services Planning, Health and Personal Social
Service.
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