Outcomes Measurement in Social Care: Insights from Current Evidence

Abstract

Outcomes measurement and evaluation in social care services have become of increasing importance. Contemporary social care services operate in a climate where accountability, transparency and cost efficiency are key to providing assurance to stakeholders, funders, and the public. In this article, thematic findings of a funded literature review are presented. The aim is to enhance understanding of how outcomes measurement can be used in social care services to improve quality, accountability, and value. Five themes are presented. These refer respectively to the vital importance of outcomes measurement; the variable nature of outcomes; strengths and limitations of outcomes measurement; the organisation of outcomes; and the utility of existing outcomes measurement approaches, as rich and indispensable learning resources. It is ultimately concluded that outcome measurement in social care services constitutes a vital and inevitable practice. Even so, surpassing the design of outcomes, to implement and embed outcomes measurement into the everyday mechanics and practices of social care services, remains an immensely challenging and complex endeavor. Clear recommendations for how to make implementation work in social care practice are therefore provided, before concluding.