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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Hayley AldersonORCiD, Professor Ruth McGovernORCiD, Debbie Smart
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers.We examine the outcome measurement landscape in care leaver innovation, where many innovations to support transitions of young people leaving care fail to sustain beyond a fixed-term pilot, and fewer impact wider transition policies. Our empirical qualitative study comprises interviews with 31 senior UK children’s social care policy and practice professionals, 103 interviews across five innovation-focused case studies within England with a range of public and private providers. We consider these data in relation to evaluations from a nationally diffused social care innovation. We identified three measurement landscape challenges. First, we highlight the limits of the economically oriented measurement and identify an overlooked outcome measurement demand. Second, we emphasise a need to stratify care leaver population outcomes to better reflect individuals transition through different domains of life and trajectory. Third, we identify areas of precarity around the intended use of care leaver experience. We conclude that tensions exist between the pull towards a unified approach to outcome measurement and the reality of decoupled outcome requirements and legitimacy-seeking priorities which differ according to stakeholder. These tensions entrench stagnant innovation. Recognition of roles and legitimacies that exist across the process of care leaver innovation is warranted. Opportunities for action are discussed.
Author(s): Johnson RE, Kerridge G, Alderson H, Currie G, Friel S, Harrop C, Lynch A, McGovern R, Munro ER, Newlands F, Smart D
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: British Journal of Social Work
Year: 2024
Volume: 54
Issue: 5
Pages: 2067-2086
Print publication date: 01/07/2024
Online publication date: 04/03/2024
Acceptance date: 16/01/2024
Date deposited: 19/08/2024
ISSN (print): 0045-3102
ISSN (electronic): 1468-263X
Publisher: Oxford University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcae020
DOI: 10.1093/bjsw/bcae020
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