Brief for External Evaluator Positive Progressions Introduction – Craven College has been successfully awarded a new project – Positive Progressions, which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and European Social Fund and will run from 5 June 2017 to 31 September 2019. The Positive Progressions project will support individuals and families who are at risk of isolation from society to increase their resilience and ability to support themselves and their families through a range of tailored support. Working with delivery and strategic partners, this project will provide intensive and sustained support to make a real difference to individuals’ lives. Through the project we hope to establish a clear model with proven impact, which can inform future delivery of the Troubled Families programme and other support mechanisms for this target group. The project will be delivered across Craven, Harrogate, Selby and York, focussing on deprived neighbourhoods and rurally isolated villages. This project will be working with 130 people who are unemployed or economically inactive and most at risk of social exclusion, or who are already on the fringes of society, including those who are workless, involved in crime or anti-social behaviour, experience debt or health problems, suffering from violence or domestic abuse. These are individuals within families who are ‘Pre-Troubled Families’, and therefore not currently eligible for support. Research has indicated that early support prior to families reaching a crisis point will reduce the likelihood of dependence and future crises, also reducing the cost of future support, benefiting wider society. The participants will benefit from increased skills, confidence and resilience. They will agree an individualised Personal Development Plan which includes a programme of 1:1 support, mentoring and specific interventions. Through this plan we aim to improve the participants’ ability to cope with everyday issues and reintegrate with society, increasing their resilience to look after themselves and their families. Working with local employers, apprenticeship and education providers we aim to secure progression to employment or training for 31% of participants, with 12% of economically inactive people being able to actively search for jobs. This will also benefit the local communities who will see increased engagement from the neighbours, developing a safer neighbourhood. We have established a delivery partnership that includes: York City Council – York Learning, Home Start Craven, Citizens Advice Service Harrogate and Craven, North Yorkshire County Council Adult Learning and Skills Service, York College, Hull College UK (Harrogate College). These organisations have experience of working with the target group, and provide wide spread geographical coverage with physical centres in all major town hubs, and outreach centres in deprived neighbourhoods and outlying rural villages. They are able to deliver a wide range of interventions which will support participants in their personal development. North Yorkshire County Council: Children and Young People’s Services is a key part of our partnership. The 0-19 Prevention Team sits within this department, who are responsible for the delivery of the Troubled Families programme. The 0-19 Prevention service will support the project through referral of families known to them who are as yet unable and ineligible to be supported through the Troubled Families programme. We will work together to ensure that the project aligns and does not duplicate the team’s work. The Clock will also refer into the project, given their contact with the target group across the East Districts. Outcomes required for evaluation Craven College is seeking an independent evaluation on the project’s success, focussing on the impact around the following four key outcomes: 1. Resilience 2. Confidence 3. Mental Health 4. Work - Readiness Evaluator We are seeking an evaluator who can bring ideas and support the project team to clearly demonstrate impact on and outcomes for participants. We are seeking an evaluator who: Has an understanding of participants Has previous experience working with troubled families or vulnerable adults Will provide or create an easy to use framework to measure impact and outcomes Will capture both qualitative and quantitative data Can work flexibly to suit the requirements of the project Submission: Your submission should include a personal CV, and up to 4 pages of A4 – to include: Your approach Your skills Quality assurance A timeline of your work Your costs and daily rate A sample of tools/paperwork that will be used to capture evidence can be submitted in addition to the maximum page limit The successful applicant will be judged on the following criteria: Value for money Creativity Understanding of the project needs Experience of past evaluations Fees: rate Maximum of £5000 including all fees, VAT (if applicable) and expenses Applications to be sent to: Pippa Syers, by email – [email protected] and to be received no later than 12 noon on Monday 5 June 2017. .