The work on personal outcomes in Scotland builds on long term research, starting with the Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU) followed by the University of Glasgow (see foot of page). The main academic link now is the University of Strathclyde. A key priority is to identify emerging practice and policy challenges and to work with partners to develop evidence informed solutions. Our learning is captured in diverse formats including peer reviewed journal articles, policy reports and evidence based supports to practice.
You can also learn more about PON learning from our evaluation of our network.
Review of evidence about carer outcome conversations
Our 2023 article from the International Journal of Care and Caring reviewing evidence about the benefits and barriers to outcome focused conversations. Although the focus was here was carers, the principles are more widely relevant: Talking about what matters
Covid story project
During 2021 our members shared inspiring stories of outcome focused practice at the height of the pandemic, in our covid story project. The report is based on evidence including stories collected at three points during the pandemic; based on initially 39 stories of keeping the focus on outcomes by practitioners in diverse sectors and roles.
Recording outcomes in the care home context
In 2020 we published a journal article in Ageing and Society. It explores the perspective of care home staff trying to record person centred outcomes and is titled Ethical dilemmas: balancing choice and risk with a duty of care in extending personalisation into the care home.
Outcome based approaches to public service reform
This 2017 paper by Ailsa Cook (now Co-Director of Matter of Focus) for What Works Scotland explores the strategic place of outcomes in public service reform in Scotland
Meaningful and Measurable project
The evidence generated through the ESRC funded Meaningful and Measurable project includes Final Project Reports for project partners plus project briefing reports (2015).
Personal outcomes & quality measures project: NHS
The We’ve Got to Talk About Outcomes series of guides were produced in 2013 following a one year government funded project exploring the possibilities for introducing a focus on personal outcomes in the NHS. The guides synthesise evidence generated in different healthcare settings in the community.
Personal outcomes in reablement and home support
This project was funded by the ESRC and North Lanarkshire Council, involving the University of Strathclyde & Iriss. It focused on personal outcomes in reablement. A summary version is available.
Talking Points practical organisational guide and summary
The Talking Points Personal Outcomes Approach: a practical guide brings together learning from development and implementation to 2012. A summary is also available.
We’ve got to talk about outcomes: a review
Talking Points was reviewed by Alison Petch, former Director of Iriss, who conducted a survey and interviewed stakeholders. Read the report of the review.
Outcomes-focused Assessment and Policy Priorities
In 2010 a journal article: Outcomes Focused Assessment and Policy Priorities published in Research, Policy and Planning includes a review of outcomes based working in England, Wales and Scotland.
Evidence about outcomes in children’s services
The Talking Hope Report, published in 2019 by CYCJ at Strathclyde University, reports on findings from a project based in one of Scotland’s secure care centres for young people. It involved diverse agencies including CAMHS and social work, as well as secure care staff and most importantly the young people resident in and with experience of secure care in conversations about hope, outcomes and transitions.
An earlier Scottish Government report exploring an outcomes focused model for disabled children combining the overarching childrens outcomes policy GIRFEC and associated SHANARRI Indicators with Talking Point principles
Evidence about outcomes and unpaid carers
Our journal article in the British Journal of Social Work explores the benefits of narrative recording of outcomes as relational practice in a Scottish carer support organisation (of (Miller and Barrie 2019)
We reviewed evidence on the impact of outcomes focused assessment for carers. This was commissioned by the Scottish Government to inform the Carers (Scotland) Act. This 2017 review identified several long-term programmes on outcomes focused planning, some specific to carers, based in England, Wales, Canada, Sweden and Scotland.
Research in Midlothian in 2013 on outcomes focused carers assessment highlighted the value of the conversation, and the need for a strong action orientation, making recommendations for practice.
VOCAL (Voice of Carers Across Lothian) was one of 8 partner organisations to take part in the Meaningful and Measurable project. Their 2013 final report shares learning about its evolving approach to engaging, recording and using outcomes information.
Understanding and evidencing how carer organisations contribute to personal outcomes
Carers organisations play a vital role supporting unpaid carers, but can find it challenging to evidence their impact because so much of the work that they do is preventative. In support of the Reshaping Care for Older People agenda, the Stitch in Time programme worked with eleven carers organisations in 2015 to capture and further develop their evaluation approach. The project was taken forward by Evaluation Support Scotland and the Coalition of Carers in Scotland.
Follow on evidence from Glasgow University
Following the work by SPRU below, a two year research project was funded by the Dept Of Health to look at outcomes of health and social care partnership working. The research is captured in a journal article in Health and Social Care in the Community. This led to a long term knowledge exchange in Scotland, currently continued by our network.
Early evidence and learning from SPRU, York University
SPRU started research on outcomes from social care specifically from 1995. One example of the many outputs produced over ten years by SPRU summarises their research on introducing outcomes into care management
Personal Outcomes Network 