EXploring Innovations in Transition to Adulthood’ (EXIT) Study

Posted 16th September 2024

NHP have been working with the Universities of Warwick and Bedfordshire on an exciting interdisciplinary UK research study - ‘EXploring Innovations in Transition to Adulthood’ (EXIT) with the goal of identifying how innovations improve outcomes for care leavers. The objectives were to; identify what supports and hinders successful innovations, share learning to support the growth and sustainability of innovations so that they can impact as many young people as possible and to contribute to improved outcomes for care leavers.  

Adopting a case study research-practice partnership approach, NHP featured as one of six innovation case studies with a focus on three sites; NHP’s innovation journey at a ‘national’ level and two House Projects (Islington and Midlothian) selected as ‘exemplars’ at a local level.  

The evaluation report focused on identifying the key ingredients to develop and sustain innovation at a practice and policy level for care leavers. It highlighted six fidelity elements (co-production, base, relationship practice, learning programme, house and LHP professional team), three outcome domains (young people, organisation and innovation journey) and the five ingredients for establishing and sustaining innovation (co-production, adaption and learning, shared leadership, receptivity of contexts and outcome measures).

In the study, young people described their experience of developing and sustaining positive and supportive relationships as ‘transformative and empowering’ Young people were reported as ‘exuding confidence and their ‘positive outcomes significantly contrasted with findings from wider research on young people’s transitions from care’. These positive outcomes were mirrored at an organisational level within Local House Projects and a national level in NHP. The fidelity elements were reported to interrelate and together created the House Project innovation. In recognising NHP’s openness and commitment to learning and development it included a summary of opportunities for the next phase of NHP journey with the hope of being supported by a research partner. We have since started work with IMPACT led by Birmingham University.  

 

 

NHP worked with Exit partners to develop and launch an Implementation Toolkit which helps local authorities, care homes, charities and organisations working in the care sector to implement new ideas that will improve their service without getting stuck with ‘pilotitis’ – ie never seeing the light of day after numerous trials.

Sue Hammersley, Director at NHP, added: “No two organisations are the same and it is helpful for them to identify where they and their partners are up to when embarking on new ways of working.This toolkit provides the opportunity for internal staff and partners to establish a shared understanding of their joint position and the work that they intend to do to achieve their goals.”

We would like to thank everyone involved for participating in and supporting the study.

Read the report here: EXIT Study Report 

 You can read more about the study here: EXIT Study overview