Formulating an evaluation plan should be an integral component of developing a service change proposal. Therefore, evaluation plans should be developed as proposals take shape and before any service change is implemented.
Reviewing the evidence base underpinning service change proposals will help ensure that proposals are based upon current knowledge of what 'works'. Research may also describe difficulties which colleagues developing similar services elsewhere have encountered, which should also be taken into account when developing proposals. Assessing the degree to which such pitfalls have been avoided could be examined within an evaluation. In addition, reviewing currently available research may demonstrate gaps in the existing evidence base, highlighting additional areas for evaluation. Furthermore, papers and reports may be available which describe evaluations of similar services undertaken by colleagues elsewhere, providing ideas for how a local evaluation could be approached.
If a 'before & after' approach to an evaluation is to be adopted, it will be important to ensure that appropriate data is collected and recorded before and after a service change has been implemented in order to assess the impact of the change. Data should be recorded to assess whether previously agreed outcomes have been achieved - these outcomes should be discussed and agreed as part of the process of developing a service change proposal.
A Support Tool is available to assist you with planning an evaluation.
Return to Introduction & Contents