Call us on 01603 251730

Evaluation and Research

Independent, practical evaluation that helps you understand impact, learn what is working and improve services for children and families.

We have extensive experience evaluating services, programmes and whole-system approaches across children's services. Our work combines robust evaluation methods with a strong understanding of practice, multi-agency systems and the realities of delivering services to children and families.

We evaluate individual interventions and services through to complex programmes and whole-system transformation, helping organisations understand what is working, for whom, why and where improvements can be made.

Our evaluation work can include:

  • Independent programme and service evaluation – assessing implementation, outcomes and impact.
  • Whole-system evaluation – exploring how services, pathways, partnerships and different parts of the system work together.
  • Mixed-method evaluation – combining quantitative data with qualitative insight from children, families, practitioners, managers, leaders and partners.
  • Theory of change and logic models – establishing intended outcomes and how activities are expected to achieve them.
  • Evaluation frameworks – developing proportionate approaches that organisations can use to understand progress and impact over time.
  • Case file and practice analysis – exploring the quality and experience of practice and identifying themes that may not be visible through performance data alone.
  • Engagement with children and families – ensuring lived experience informs understanding of how services are working.
  • Multi-agency practitioner and stakeholder engagement – using interviews, focus groups and workshops to understand implementation, barriers and opportunities for improvement.
  • Economic evaluation and value for money – exploring costs, benefits and return on investment where appropriate.
  • Practical recommendations and implementation learning – turning findings into realistic actions for improvement.

Evaluation grounded in children's services

Our evaluators combine research and evaluation expertise with extensive experience of children's services and multi-agency working. This enables us to interpret findings in context, understand what is achievable in practice and identify the factors that may be helping or hindering change.

We work collaboratively while maintaining the independence needed to provide credible findings and constructive challenge.

Our evaluations are designed not simply to produce a final report, but to support learning and continuous improvement throughout the work.

Economic evaluation

Where appropriate, we can incorporate economic evaluation, cost-effectiveness and social and fiscal return on investment to help organisations understand both the impact and value of their services.

Find out more about our Economic Evaluation of Services.

Our experience

We have completed more than 50 independent evaluations for local authorities and other organisations, including evaluations of Family Hubs, early help and family support, workforce and practice development, service transformation and multi-agency approaches.

Case Studies

View all Case Studies

What our clients say:

  • Interface carried out an evaluation of our Early Help services. We were particularly impressed with the range of skills and experience across the team and the way they liaised with family members and professionals. Also, the regular communication and management of the process.

    The team were very flexible and the report was well written in plain English.
    We were very pleased with the evaluation and the reports will inform our service development and practice.

    Ruth Beecher, Service Manager, Early Help for Families (Islington)

  • Thank you for a very insightful piece of work. Your experience of evaluations, alongside your knowledge of the area was second to none and we have learnt such a lot.

    Assistant Director Leeds

  • "Interface delivered an exceptionally thorough evaluation of our Teaching Partnership. They engaged confidently with a diverse range of stakeholders, skilfully balancing different viewpoints while collecting and analysing both qualitative and quantitative evidence. The evaluation was robust, objective and insightful, providing us with practical recommendations and a clear action plan that will continue to shape our partnership's development."

    Social Work Teaching Partnership

  • I have been very pleased by the work carried out by Interface. They were able to work flexibly and adapted well to our requirements. The training was designed and delivered in a constantly changing environment and Interface were able to work well with this and didn't get frustrated! The quality of the training delivered was consistently evaluated as excellent.

    Together for Families Lead Officer (Cambridge)

  • We have worked with Interface on a number of occasions. This has included commissioning them to undertake an Evaluation of the Teaching Partnership and delivering a Train the Trainer package on Trauma Informed Practice across the Cheshire and Merseyside region. In all communications with them they have been open and flexible to our ideas and helped us to shape what can be delivered and undertaken, in true collaboration with them. This has ensured the desired outcomes. They bring so much to the table from their knowledge of the arena we work in, their experience from previous work they have undertaken and they have personel that are inspiring, accommodating and work so effectively with all that we have thrown at them.

    We have been so happy with the work that Interface has undertaken for us that we have just commissioned them to facilitate a national Teaching Partnership project that we are part of. I look forward to working with them in the near future.

    Nicola Whiteside, Cheshire & Merseyside SWTP

Search