Evaluation of a pilot scheme to deliver Autism Training for Mental Health Workers in five regions in England

The aim of this piece of work is to design and deliver an evaluation process for the pilot training programme and to provide an independent view of the effectiveness of the training specified as follows:

Health Education England (HEE) is funding a pilot training programme for consultant psychiatrists. The training will be awareness of the presentation of autism spectrum conditions - Level 1 and Core Level 2. This programme will be developed and delivered by a specialist training provider and will be delivered through face to face sessions across five English regions for these purposes- North, Midlands and East, South, Southwest and London. There will be 6 events that will take place, two events in London and one in each of the other identified regions all of which are scheduled to be completed by 31 March 2019.

Objectives:

To design and implement an evaluation process and methodology which will assist Health Education England to review the effectiveness of the training delivery, its short-term impact and assess likely return on investment. The evaluation should seek to: -

• Demonstrate whether the training was delivered in accordance with the original specification and met identified objectives
• Identify trainees by staff mix and geographical area to assess whether targeted
• Evaluate whether training met the needs and expectations of the target audience and whether delegates considered it addressed deficits in existing skills and knowledge base
• Identify, gather and present qualitative and quantitative information to show any evidence of impact on service delivery and patient outcomes.
• Identify, gather and present information that will indicate whether the training is likely to show any return on investment, what this may be and within what period the benefits may/may not be realised.
• Highlight any identified or potential future challenges to the implementation of learning in the workplace (work design, funding challenges, ways of working, external factors etc.).
• The supplier will deliver a final report which evaluates the pilot training programme and makes recommendations of effectiveness, outcomes and future potential investment. This report should be delivered by 31 March or within 4 weeks of the final training event taking place (whichever is the soonest).
• The supplier will be responsible for designing and providing all evaluation means and materials as required, surveys, handouts, briefings etc.
• The supplier will be required to liaise with the provider of the training to ensure that the evaluation methods and means can be facilitated and will be deliverable and to identify delegates and agree a means of establishing contract in order to facilitate evaluation processes.