Evaluation
Abstract
These are reports on the evaluation of the 2007/8 child health exercise, CAMHS and maternity service mapping exercise, 2008/09 children's services mapping exercise and 2009/10 children's services mapping exercise. Registered users of the mapping website ('mapping leads', 'assistant mapping leads' and 'service group heads') were invited to complete an online evaluation questionnaire. The evaluation fulfilled three functions: 1) to enhance the understanding of mapping data 2)to feed into improvements for the exercise 3)to inform a PhD thesis on the mapping exercise.
Two core messages come from the evaluations: 1) overall respondents were satisfied with the mapping systems (website, guidance and helpdesk) although improvements will continue to be made in line with feedback 2) individuals and organisations do not yet use the mapping data as much, or find it to be as useful, as hoped and this is a key challenge the Durham University Mapping Team are addressing through the development of a new reporting system and a new look website. Improvements will continue to be made to all aspects of the exercise in response to the annual evaluation.
A separate evaluation exercise was undertaken with local authorities who participated in the mapping exercise for the first time in 2008/09. This summary includes their experiences of doing the exercise, how they have used the data so far and their feedback on how to improve the exercise
Authors
Wistow, R. and Barnes, D. (2009) Evaluation of the 2007/8 child health, CAMHS and maternity service mapping exercise. Durham, Durham University.