Non-government agencies

Partners in Recovery Evaluation

This assignment required the evaluation of the Central and Adelaide Hills Medicare Local (CAHML) Partners in Recovery (PIR) initiative. CAHML engaged Evolution Research to undertake the evaluation to determine the extent to which it had achieved the ultimate aim of improving the coordination and integration of services and whether this had impacted on the outcomes for people with severe and persistent mental illness with complex needs.

The evaluation considered the achievement of the overarching PIR objectives (including pulling together of services like income support, housing, employment, medical care and education, which often lack inter-agency coordination), and also focused on the initial success of the CAH PIR model as developed by CAHML, including the impact that this model had on achievement of the ultimate aims and objectives of the PIR initiative, and how the dynamic of collective impact has impacted on relations with and between PIR Consortium Members and CAHML.

The approach to the evaluation consisted of both quantitative and qualitative analysis of data, anecdotal feedback and extensive review of available documentation relevant to the delivery of activities associated with each of the project’s deliverables. Consultation was undertaken with PIR Consortium Members (including Uniting Care Wesley Port Adelaide and Bowden, Life Without Barriers, Mental Illness Fellowship SA, MIND Australia, Mission Australia, Neami National and The Salvation Army), PIR Support Facilitators, and PIR clients. A detailed report was provided with findings of the consultations and program documentation review, including identification of areas of strength of the PIR program and recommendations to address identified issues including actions to address systems gaps, review and clarify roles and communication channels, improve feedback mechanisms, reduce inconsistencies in program delivery, reduce Support Facilitator isolation, and improve data recording processes.