Background
The community evaluator programme is a new way of putting residents and service users at the forefront of the evaluation of opportunities for local decision-making and engagement activities in the borough. This short briefing paper sets out key information to encourage people to get involved in this exciting project.
The project is being led by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Community Engagement Team with support from the Kensington and Chelsea Partnership’s Community, Equality and Inclusivity Partnership.
How will the programme work?
Approximately twelve residents will be trained as ‘community evaluators’ to undertake evaluation tasks, such as attending meetings and events, making telephone contact with services and reviewing information on engagement opportunities.
We’re keen to encourage a range of people to become involved in the programme, reflecting the diversity of the area.
What will the evaluation be used for?
Evaluators, will write a report of their findings, with assistance from the training organisation working alongside us. This information will be presented back to service leads in respective partner organisations bringing about future improvement to the borough’s strategic approach to community engagement. It will also help make it easier for more local people to become involved in decision-making. Information like this will help with local plans to encourage the ‘Big Society’.
This project sounds familiar. How does it differ to mystery shopping?
Although the programme is similar to mystery shopping, the fundamental differences will be in the level of training and feedback processes used. Community evaluators will be able to present findings and meetdirectly with senior service deliverers. In some instances, they may also assist with implementation of any actions which came out of the evaluation. Evaluators are likely to have a greater involvement in the entire process.
What are the timescales involved?
We are hoping to identify potential evaluators during August, recruit in early September and train (four training sessions), by end of September 2010. Evaluations will be conducted within October 2010. We would expect evaluators to commit to time between early September until mid November 2010.
What would be expected of a community evaluator?
- Availability during September to mid-November
- Material required for training or for evaluations to be read
- Be available for the four training sessions (half days)
- Be willing to participate in 1-3 evaluation activities in October. Each activity is likely to
take between 2 – 3 hours plus possible travel time
- Provide feedback on the activities (attending one feedback session)
- Co-present the findings, with the training agency to service leads (optional)
- Be able to speak, read and write English to a good standard
- Be living in or receiving a service within Kensington and Chelsea
- Be over the age of 18yrs (16+yrs can be considered)
What can community evaluators expect from participating in the programme?
- Opportunity to meet other residents and service users with similar interests and
help make a difference in the borough
- Training, advice and support before and between each evaluation activity
- Opportunity to learn more about the variety of meetings/activities within the borough
- An opportunity to understand how public service agencies engage service users
and residents and help influence service delivery
- A gift voucher acknowledging their time and to cover additional out of pocket
expenses, such as travel *
- A certificate indicating completion of the community evaluator course and having taken
part in the programme
- A reference if required by the evaluator
*If special arrangements are required, additional expenses will be covered
Interested?
Please contact K&C LINk on 020 8968 6771 or email rbkclink@hestia.org for further information.
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