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Option 2 - Cardiff and Vale - Evaluation Report 2008
Option 2 - Cardiff & Vale - Evaluation Summary 2008
Changing Trax - Newcastle - Crisis Intervention Programme - Evaluation Report 2008
Changing Trax - Newcastle - Crisis Intervention Programme - Evaluation Summary 2008
Changing Trax - Newcastle - Strengthening Families - Evaluation Report 2007
Changing Trax - Newcastle - Strengthening Families - Evaluation Summary 2007
Option 2 - Cardiff & Vale 2005 - 2006 Annual Report
Option 2 - Cardiff & Vale 2006 - 2007 Annual Report
Option 2 - Cardiff & Vale 2007 - 2008 Annual Report
DARRT - Conwy 2005/06/07 Annual Report
Working with Resistance in Families Experiencing Violence:
Evidence based practice & local resources
Dr Amanda Bremble & DI Gary Bohun January 2009
Reports, Research and Evaluation
Research into Option 2 Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan
The National Assembly for Wales commissioned an external evaluation into the cost benefit of the Option 2 intervention. Its findings have now been published by Dr Donald Forrester et al consortium of the Universities of Bedfordshire, Brunel and Birmingham.
Focus of research
The focus of the research was on the work of Option 2, delivered in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan between 2000 and 2006. Emphasis was on the reduction of the need for children to enter the public care system.
Areas covered by research
The research had two main elements to it:
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A quantitative analysis comparing care outcomes for children whose families were involved in an Option 2 intervention with those children whose families were appropriate for an Option 2 intervention but were referred at a time when the team had no spaces and therefore did not receive an intervention from Option 2.
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A qualitative study based on interviews with parents and children who received the service.
Quantitative Findings
This is possibly the first UK evaluation of such a service using such a robust methodology. While Option 2 did not reduce the proportion of children who entered care, Option 2 significantly reduced the time children spent in care. As a result a quarter of Option 2 children were in care at the end of the study, compared to a third of the children in the comparison group.
Significant cost savings to the local authority were reported, with Option 2 seen as a cost-effective approach to reducing care costs.
Client Feedback
Parents and children using the service over a 12-month period were interviewed. All participants were very positive about the service the family received from Option 2. All talked about quickly finding the input supportive and valuable.
Six main categories captured the descriptions of the participants in terms of key components perceived as core to the service and helpful to the family:
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A non-judgemental and understanding approach providing options rather than “being dictated to”.
‘The interviewee said that the ”last thing you want when you’ve got stress is being dictated to”. The Option 2 worker came in “as a friend”, “not as a dictator”. The option 2 worker gave them advice in a non-critical way.’ (page 56)
I asked the interviewees what about Option 2 worked well for them. The father said that it was “the fact that they accept you.” The mother said “They don’t judge you”. (p56)
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Good open communication between the worker and the family.
‘The Option 2 worker was really friendly but “got to the point if needed to”. The worker was “straight, blatant and honest” and she found this really helpful.’(p56)
‘”I felt that [Option 2 worker] was really listening… There was nothing she missed.”’(p56)
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Availability, reliability and high frequency of contact.
‘The interviewee felt that what worked for their family were the “regular visits” and getting to know us as a family” and observing them.’(p57)
‘She said that…[Option 2 worker] was “always there” and “reliable”.’(p57)
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Suggesting practical strategies and offering practical support if needed
‘”What ever problems I had” [Option 2 worker] helped. This included potty training, cravings and her elder son’s behavioural problems’.(p58)
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Support with substance problem when required
‘The interviewee explained that it had been helpful to work with [Option 2 worker] as “he was somebody to speak to about drinking. [Option 2 worker] understood… obviously worked with other people in similar situations”.’(p58)
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Help with family relationship problems when required.
‘The interviewee said that the [Option 2 worker] had helped to reduce her drinking but the biggest help had been with the relationship with her daughter.’(p59)
‘The father said that [Option 2 worker] asked than what attracted them to their partner and why they thought they worked well together [using] “thought provoking questions…would get you to think”’(p59)
Children’s Feedback
The children described how working with the Therapists provided them with an opportunity to increase their self-confidence. Which they reported in turn led to improvements at school with both teaches and friends, as well as when interacting with other professionals.
‘”I’m much more confident and can say what’s on my mind”.’(p61)
Children also talked about how they felt the work with Option 2 improved the quality of their parents’ relationship, the children’s relationship with their parent(s), and sibling relationships.
‘[One child] felt that his mother had “really calmed down…[and doesn’t] hit us and swear at us anymore”.’(p61)
‘A 15 year old boy spoke about how he now fought much less with his two younger siblings. The change had occurred “by listening to [option 2 worker]: those little things make you think”.’(p61)
Future Research
Recommendations for were made. As a service we are keen to better measure the elements of family functioning relevant to the intervention.
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The Welsh Assembly Response to the Evaluation:
Evaluation of Option 2 and the Vulnerable Children Strategy
The Minister for Social Justice and Local Government and the Deputy Minister for Social Services have jointly agreed to develop the Intervention Family Support Care Model (IFS) based on evaluation evidence from Option 2 and other intervention schemes. Initially the pilots will focus on families with substance misuse problems and where the children are at risk of harm. The aim is to test a new IFS Care Model within two or three local authority areas.