DSRU is providing specialist support to 25 delivery projects across the UK to support service refinement and help them build their evidence-base. We are conducting a programme-level impact evaluation: incorporating cost-benefit analysis, routinely collected outcome and fidelity monitoring data and progression against our Standards of Evidence.

We are leading on the development of the Realising Ambition ‘Programme Insight’ series - a 12-part output sharing learning from the programme about replication - and working with our consortium partners to manage the delivery of the programme.

In addition, we are undertaking three randomised controlled trials: two full trials and one feasibility and pilot trial see:

• ARIEL
• CHANCE UK
• MALACHI

These will report in 2017. 

Programme Insight Series

Rather than writing a long evaluation report at the end of the five-year programme – which would likely be read by very few people – we are instead producing a series of 12 Programme Insights.

Each of these Programme Insights is designed to share reflections, learning and practical implications from Realising Ambition. By sharing ideas, successes, challenges and even some mistakes, we hope to support and inspire others considering, undertaking or commissioning their own replication journey. Find out more here. 

• Issue 1: The Secret Life of Innovation: Replication; Defining success in replicating services for children and young people

In the first of our Programme Insights, we explore the topic of replication: delivering a service into new geographical areas or to new or different audiences. We examine the reasons for replicating in children’s services, the ingredients for successful replication and the stages involved. We also explore the links between replication and innovation – two concepts that are not as different as they might appear. See Programme Insight - The Secret Life of Innovation

• Issue 2: Evidence is Confidence: How to create a richer evidential tapestry

In the second of our Programme Insights series, we explore the role of evidence in the context of replication. In particular, we argue for a broader, more nuanced view of evidence, one that is non-sequential and proportionate. Evidence is not the unequivocal truth: evidence is confidence. See Programme Insight - Evidence is Confidence

Design and Refine

In addition to the Programme Insight series, we have also produced Design and Refine: a guide to developing interventions for children and young people and planning for their implementation. Download it here. 

Innovation to evidence-based practice webinar series

During the first year of the Realising Ambition programme we produced a six-part webinar series, introducing key concepts to service design and implementation. These webinars will be of interest to charities interested in developing promising innovations into evidence-based programmes. You can view recordings of the six webinars by clicking on the titles below:

• Developing intervention manuals: Why projects need manuals; the challenges in using manuals; how programme manuals can be adapted; and how manuals should be written.

• Serving the right people: The importance of serving the right people; how to select and screen to ensure your intervention serves the right people; the difference between need and demand and how to measure this; and factors influencing recruitment and retention.

• Developing a logic model or theory of change: Why logic models or theories of change are important, and suggests how to go about developing one for your intervention.

• Defining intervention activities: The importance of specifying and distinguishing between core and flexible components of an intervention, and how this links with fidelity measurement.

• Monitoring intervention fidelity: The importance of fidelity when developing and replicating interventions, the ways that fidelity can be measured and how this data can be used to inform service delivery. 

• Specifying financial and human resources: The importance of realistically costing the financial and human resources required to deliver and replicate a service, and how to do this.