Implementing Outcomes Based Accountability in Children's Services. Case Studies

Outcomes Based Accountability (OBA) is an approach that Children's Trusts and Children's Services can use to assist with planning services and assessing their performance. The OBA approach focuses on outcomes that are desired and monitoring and evidencing progress towards those desired outcomes. OBA makes a distinction between two types of accountability: (1) population accountability, which is about improving outcomes for a particular population within a defined geographical area; and (2) performance accountability, which is about the performance of a service and improving outcomes for a defined group of service users. Using the OBA approach entails the use of a Turning the Curve exercise. This involves identifying the desired outcome, projecting what would happen over time if nothing changed, and then planning changes which will lead to improved outcomes or "turned curves" that move away from the initial projection. A second key feature of OBA is the use of performance management categories which distinguish between "How much did we do?" "How well did we do it?" and, the most important category, "Is anyone better off?" This report presents nine case studies which each focus on using OBA in Children's Services. Individual case studies contain notes and figures.