SECTION 4 & 5 Section 5: Demonstrating Impact Effective commissioning of services
demonstrating compliance in contract monitoring, they only measure a very small proportion of Local Authority commissioners have a responsibility the scope of the School Nurses role. However, a to "optimiseoutcomes,improvehealthandwellbeing challenge for School Nursing is developing their and reduce inequalities in local populations” and approach to evaluating and evidencing impact and to demonstrate the effectiveness, outcomes and outcomes. In response to the criticism of the small impact of the services which they commission. and relatively weak evidence base of School Nursing, National policy sets out the measurement of recommendations have been made to support outcomes against key indicators in the NHS them to develop their skills in evaluation, ensuring Outcome Framework and the Public Health that it is an integral part of their work, using both Outcomes Framework 29,36. However, it is important quantitative and qualitative data, evaluating process for commissioners to stay focused on the needs and outcomes of interventions to demonstrate of children and young people in the local area, impact, evidencing return on investment and identifying a clear set of outcomes for services disseminating good practice 25,38. To do this School which are relevant to the Local Authority’s vision. Equally important is the clarity of the commissioning Nurses need to consider how they demonstrate their contribution to locally articulated goals alongside intentions; the features of the service that those in national frameworks. commissioner wishes to develop 37. In addition, it There are tools that can support School Nurses is important that School Nursing is not seen in to measure impact of interventions such as isolation and there is a need to work collaboratively Public Health Impact pathways. and in partnership with other services to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people 2.
Seeking children, and young people’s and parent/carers wellbeing and experience are a Demonstrating Returns on Investment significant contribution to the cycle of service Moving towards measuring meaningful outcomes development 1, 2,29. The Integration and Better Care in complex, integrated systems Fund, 2019 recognises the importance of measuring patient experience, not only to guide service “Work with partners and other stakeholders to build a improvement, but also because people’s sharedviewofwhatgood=lookslike,howtoachieve experiences of care may be linked to clinical this,howitshouldbemeasuredandhowlearning outcomes and costs 37. should be used” 73 IntegrationandBetterCare Fund,9 1 0 2
Currently, service specification largely focuses on process measures, capturing outputs such as the number of PSHE sessions delivered in school, the number of children attending a group, the number of referrals received into a service. Whilst
SCHOOL NURSING: A Service Fit for the Future
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