Unlocking value: a comparison of impact and value for money between fee-for-service and outcome based contracts
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In this session, we will explore the findings from the Labour Market Evaluation Pilot Fund evaluation, focusing on the Kirklees Better Outcomes Partnership (KBOP), a social outcomes partnership commissioned under the Life Chances Fund in the United Kingdom. The programme supports adults experiencing multiple and complex disadvantage who, without assistance, are at heightened risk of homelessness.
Engaging with Evidence is a series of interactive online convenings hosted by the Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab) and designed to encourage a greater understanding of the latest evidence on the use of cross-sector partnerships focused on outcomes. The sessions are hosted monthly, and attract a diverse range of practitioners from different sectors, as well as researcher from across the world.
Building independent, high-quality evidence
At the GO Lab, we believe in the importance of building independent, high-quality evidence and disseminating it effectively to inform policy decisions and improve practice on the ground. As new evidence around the use of outcomes-based approaches is starting to emerge, we hope that with this series of online convenings we can continue to bridge the gap between evidence and practice, and help foster real dialogue between policymakers, practitioners and researchers in an honest, transparent and constructive way. Both veterans and explorers interested in better understanding the latest evidence around the use of outcomes-based approaches are welcome to join these sessions.
Throughout 2023, Engaging with Evidence will offer an open platform for policymakers, practitioners and researchers around the world to engage with key findings from the latest research and evaluation work in the field. They will have the opportunity to discuss new evidence directly with the authors of research and evaluation studies, hear the practical insights of the partners involved in the development and implementation of the projects under discussion, and reflect on the relevance of the evidence to their own work.
What to expect
Each session lasts 90 minutes and features contributions from a diverse panel of experts, as well as ample time for contributions and questions from all participants. Discussions at each session are grounded in the findings of a recent evaluation or research study, with additional practical insights brought in by stakeholders directly involved in the work or project under discussion. Each session follows a set format:
- Setting the context & presentation of the evaluation/ research findings
- Discussion with the panel and audience questions
- Closing remarks
If you’d like to suggest a topic or highlight a recent study that you’d like to see discussed on a future session, please contact our moderator Jessica Reedy
Session Overview
Like other local councils in England, Kirklees previously commissioned ad hoc housing support services for people at risk of homelessness through a group of non-profit provider organisation under fee-for-service (FFS) contracts. In 2019, the council introduced an outcomes-based contract (OBC) that specified social outcomes to be achieved and linked payments to performance.
During this session, we will explore the impact and cost-effectiveness of KBOP compared with the earlier FFS model and unpack broader questions about how to design contracts with the right incentives and safeguards so that public money is spent wisely and citizens receive high-quality services. We will consider how shifting the focus from inputs to outcomes fosters innovation and supports more sustainable impact - and what these findings suggest for the future of complex social service commissioning.