1. Knowledge Transfer Partnership Project Nottingham Trent University and Nottinghamshire County Council
Dr Adam Barnard
Rachel Clark
Catherine Goodall
19/4/16

2. Overview Introduction
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships – Innovative Model
Personal Development
Outputs
Impact
Opportunities
19th April 2016

3. What is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership?
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are projects involving a University and a business to solve a problem or meet a specific business need
KTPs employ a graduate as an associate, to lead the project and act as a knowledge transfer agent
Projects last between 12 and 36 months, there are currently around 700 projects running across the UK
KTPs have the potential to increase sustainable capacity and capability for businesses to innovate, capitalising on knowledge and expertise in academia
19th April 2016

4. Innovative Model – Our Project
KTPs are partly funded by Innovate UK (formerly Technology Strategy Board)
The project is partly funded by the Council and partly by the Economic Social Research Council (ESRC)
The is a 30 month project between Nottinghamshire County Council and the University – ending July 2016
Catherine is employed as the lead Design And Implementation Analyst for the project
The project was designed to review children’s services in the county, specifically looking at the approach taken to working with children and families, and parenting support
19th April 2016

5. The KTP
The KTP project has several main aspects, which are all linked:
To assess the approach taken to working with children and families
To review parenting support across the county
To collaborate with children, young people, families and practitioners in action research, and to create a culture change for more sustained involvement in the future
To develop, implement and test tools and processes
To report on findings to both the Council and the University
To produce articles and conference presentations based on findings
19th April 2016

6. Personal Development - Associate
Dedicated budget
Allocated time for development opportunities
Completed a wide range of training and development – lecturing, management, academic writing, software
Residential business management training
Experience of working for two organisations
Responsibility for managing project
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7. Key Outputs Literature searches
Parenting programme validation process established
Parenting programme evaluations database developed
Targeting tool for parenting programmes developed
Advice and guidance on a range of projects
Bespoke training delivered for staff
Evaluative Framework developed
Participatory Action Research facilitated with children and young people
19th April 2016

8. Literature Searching Two purposeful, in-depth searches conducted:
Parenting Programmes
Reviewed key evidence for a variety of national and international parenting programmes
Explored themes such as implementation, fidelity, costs and local adaptation
Approaches
Many local authorities are adopting whole-workforce approaches to working with children and families, the department was keen to explore options in light of Ofsted requirements
Reviewed the limited evidence for differing approaches
Considered issues such as systems theory, assessing local needs, cultural identity
19th April 2016

9. Parenting Support
The local authority and its partners currently deliver a range of support options to parents and families
The literature review found large variability in the quality, implementation, costs and effectiveness of different options
Evidence (both local and national) is sparse and with significant reductions in funding, it is crucial we provide effective support
Therefore, we designed three related processes: a targeting tool for programmes; a validation panel for locally designed or adapted programmes; and an evaluations database to collect evidence of impact
19th April 2016

10. Parenting Programmes Validation
Designed a local validation process to evaluate parenting programmes
Gathered evidence from a range of areas to establish key criteria for validation – sharing good practice with another local authority
Informed by research evidence collected during literature search
A panel reviews submissions based on set criteria – establishing effectiveness and cost effectiveness, and measuring impact
Process involves working with practitioners to gather evidence of impact of parenting programmes
19th April 2016

11. Parenting Programmes Targeting Tool
Literature review identified effective targeting of programmes to meet needs is crucial
Worked with external partner to design web-based application
Tool identifies the most appropriate parenting programme for a family based on a assessment of need
Tool collects data on local needs and gaps in provision
Informs commissioning
19th April 2016

12. Parenting Programmes Evaluations Database
Building on previous good practice developed a process to collate and analyse evaluative data on parenting programmes
Practitioners collect standardised ‘pre’ and ‘post’ evaluations for programmes
The database is currently in a pilot phase
Database will provide local, district and county wide data, building a local evidence base to inform future delivery and commissioning
19th April 2016

13. Participatory Action Research
Part of the project involves conducting Participatory Action Research (PAR) with children and young people
PAR is an innovative methodology aiming to support participants to research a social issue which affects them, to drive real world change
Experienced extensive difficulties working with the authority to carry out PAR – unique method is challenging in various ways for the department
Plans in place to explore experiences of growing up in small geographical locations across the county
Learning from this methodology can be shared widely across the department, and meets the UNCRC requirements
19th April 2016

14. Impact for the Council
Widespread benefits from literature searches and access to academic evidence and expertise, at a significantly reduced cost compared to consultancy rates
Redesigned several processes to improve efficiency, reduce waste and costs
Bespoke training delivered for staff which focused on critical thinking and the use of high quality data and systematic analyses to inform practice
Acknowledged in the Ofsted report for the Local Authority inspection “The council has taken a creative approach to identifying and adopting practice which is evidence based”
19th April 2016

15. Impact for the Council
Informed the design and implementation of the new Family Service, a major service redesign
Contributed to a local Consistent Approach to Assessment and Planning group, tasked with designing an assessment toolkit for practitioners and a new Single Assessment
The evaluative framework can guide the design and evaluation of services across the department
Catalyst for changes in the culture of the department, increasingly focusing on using evidence to inform decision making and service design
19th April 2016

16. Impact for the University
The project secured funding for the University – supervision and academic activities
Strengthening relationship with industry partners
Academic outputs
Data from research
Links to practice – opportunities for student placements and delivering CPD
Opportunities for further research and capturing funding
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17. Academic Outputs
Article in Practice: Social Work in Action – 2* research output – International Journal
Presentation at SRA Conference – London – Large annual conference
Presentation at BASPCAN Conference – Edinburgh– Large annual conference ->
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18. Wider Impact
Today’s event – sharing knowledge with and learning from local and national partners
Sharing good practice – networks and events
Online presence
Networks established and strengthened
Further planned academic articles and outputs
19th April 2016

19. Future Opportunities
Strengthened relationship between the University and Local Authority – opportunities for student placements and CPD
Opportunities for social funding models – possibilities for establishing Social Impact Bonds or Social Enterprises
Potential to seek other forms of innovative funding to further the ongoing relationship between organisations
19th April 2016

20. Recap Introduction Knowledge Transfer Partnerships – Innovative Model
Personal Development
Outputs
Impact
Opportunities
19th April 2016

21. Any questions?