5. Monitor impact and learn from evidence

Develop evidence and simple measures which go beyond blunt proxy approaches (such as reduced hospital admissions or delayed transfers of care), to help articulate the broader benefits of an asset-based approach to the system and to communities, and disseminate good practice and learning.

Identifying and measuring outcomes and indicators, monitoring progress and capturing learning must be carefully embedded in assetbased approaches from an early stage. This is important not just because evaluation can help define processes and shape delivery, but because funding and procurement often require that results and outcomes are accurately measured and that services can demonstrate their impact and value for money.

There is a broad range of evaluative models and ‘learning by doing’ approaches which should be adapted depending on the type of intervention and the capacity (and funds) available to deliver the evaluation. A process, or formative evaluation, can draw out learning and best practice in terms of ‘what works’ and an impact evaluation helps assess the social and economic change.

Co-producing an evaluation framework with local people and communities not only places their values at the heart of the evaluation, but also acts as another opportunity to review the vision and delivery plan of an activity before it even begins.

Examples of how key enablers can be achieved: