APPENDIX 1EVALUATION ASSOCIATE SPECIFICATION

THURROCK ON TRACK

TCHC, in partnership with Thurrock Council, is looking to appoint an associate to carry out an evaluation of the On Track Thurrock programme. To ensure continuity this contract is for an individual and the potential associate will be required to operate part time from the main on track delivery office in Grays, Essex for the duration of the contract. They may be a self employed individual, a candidate through an agency or an employee of a consultancy or other type of company.

The On Track programme is funded by the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative. The programme aims to engage1310NEET young people aged 16 to 29 and support 768 back into employment, education or training. Deliverybegan in 2016 and is due to complete at the end of July 2018.

The programme has a suite of outputs and results by which it will formally be measured. This opportunity is for a programme wide qualitative and quantitative evaluation to:

  • Identify best practice and key learning points to inform the final stages of programme delivery,
  • Identify the net economic and social impact of the programme on completion
  • Identify the added value and ancillary benefits of the programme
  • Assess the programmes value for money
  • Identify the legacy and key learning from the programme
  • Inform the design and delivery of future programmes

There are 5 key outputs which should be included withinthe evaluation, and these may be supplemented by additional work which arises from the evaluation findings:

1.Interim evaluation report

This should look at how the project is being delivered now and provide recommendations for any changes during the final delivery stage. It should include looking at what is working well and what is not working well. It should identify if the project is meeting its objectives; whether the delivery mechanisms for the project are being effective; identify changes in the environment in which the project is operating and provide estimates of expected impact.

2.Final Impact Evaluation

This should identify the net economic and social impacts of the programmeby completion and what they are expected to be in the future in order to determine if the project has been value for money. It should look at gross and net impacts and consider additional impacts which have been created through project activities. It should highlight examples of best practice as well as provide case studies. The performance of the programme should be benchmarked against national or project specific performance.

3.Programme Report

Working with the On Track Marketing Officer, the evaluation should provide the framework and content for an accessible public report highlighting the achievements of the programme. This should include case studies and positive experiences of programme participants and be useable as a marketing tool for the On Track partnership and future bids.

4.Future Programme Report

This should provide a summary of the programme learning and legacy. It should also identify a range of recommendations to inform the future delivery of programmes for unemployed people. The data within the report should be suitable for inclusion within external funding applications.

5. Data Summary

This should provide a summary of quantitative programme performance, covering both direct and indirect impacts, to be used as a fact sheet for the programme headlines.