Evaluation approach

In order to track progress against programme objectives; to uncover impact; to help articulate any newfound understanding of best practice; and to ensure valuable learning was captured and recorded, the Social Research Unit was appointed to conduct an independent evaluation of the THREADS programme. The SRU worked alongside the THREADS programme delivery team, utilising a range of research methods in order to gather insights. To achieve the evaluation aims, a mixed-methods approach was adopted which included the following methods:

• Review of pre-existing secondary data sources

• Analysis of monitoring data – this included prisoner demographic data and additional prisoner information in order to identify effectiveness and identify the value that THREADS generates.

• Analysis of both Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale scores (WEMWBS) and the THREADS Self Scoring tool.

• Social Return on Investment (SROI) to calculate the social value return generated by the THREADS intervention.

• Qualitative interviews with key stakeholders including prison staff, delivery staff and wider stakeholders in order to explore the process of delivering THREADS and considerations for THREADS roll out.

• Focus groups with Peers and Facilitators in order to assess the impact of the THREADS intervention tool

Outcomes and impacts

Exploring the process of delivering THREADS within prisons from a multi-stakeholder perspective found that the quality of training, staff buy in, and the impact of the peer led approach were areas of delivery that worked particularly well. The power of the peer led, person centred, approach was felt to be key to the success of the programme in the prison setting enabling Peers to speak openly and honestly to a supporter with lived experience.

The SROI analysis suggested that THREADS delivered considerable outcomes for the people it served, but also doing so in a cost-effective manner. The approach taken to this analysis was a conservative one, in keeping with SROI best practice, but broader evidence pointed to further impacts for THREADS, many of which would provide substantial value.

When considering rolling out THREADS it was recognised that there is a need to be adaptable to prison challenges including staff turnover, shortages, and restricted regimes, in a resource stretched arena. For the successful scaling up of THREADS, there will need to be efficiencies made in the running of the programme and will ultimately require adequate funding to continue.

Through the research, it was recognised that THREADS filled a gap in providing low level behavioural support, accessible through self-referral; and it was unanimous amongst all participants that there was need for a programme such as THREADS that seeks to prevent rather than react to prisoners in crisis.