20 Aug 2024*Applications for the 2025 intake will open in October 2024*
The Introduction to Evaluation online short course is designed for staff in frontline services in the NHS, local government and social care organisations who wish to conduct evaluations of services or interventions. The course covers key guidance from the planning stages through to sharing your findings.
In line with our core aims to provide the health and social care communities with opportunities to develop their evaluation capability, we are offering free places to members of any organisation partnered with NIHR ARC North Thames. The cost to members of non-partner organisations is £150 (£180 inc. VAT).
Why take this course?
This engaging online course, run by the ARC North Thames Academy, equips you with the knowledge and skills to start addressing these challenges. The course is aimed at staff in frontline services in the NHS, local government and social care organisations who have limited experience of conducting service evaluations.
Inspired by the content of our popular face-to-face evaluation course, you will gain the skills and knowledge to undertake your own evaluation of a local intervention or service and be able to appraise other evaluations.
Teaching is delivered entirely online by experienced health research experts. We use real-world examples and practical exercises to support you in applying your knowledge. You’ll learn by taking part in lectures and interactive activities, and by participating in the discussions that accompany each step.
The course supervisors will be available to give you direct guidance on planning your evaluation and facilitate discussions among participants, creating opportunities for you to seek feedback from professionals across a range of health and social care roles.
What will this course cover?
Who is the course for?
This course is suitable for staff from NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, CCGs and social care organisations who need to evaluate local programmes or services as part of their work. It is not aimed at academics and/or researchers.
Participants should attend the course with an evaluation in mind that they may have to carry out. No previous knowledge of evaluation is required, or experience of study design and statistics.
How long is the course?
The course opens on 20th January 2025, and we expect that on average participants will require a total of 12 hours across 9 weeks (20th January – 28th March) to complete the course. Participants will receive a certificate of completion if they complete at least 80% of the course activities, which can be exchanged for CPD credits.
How to apply
Applications for the 2025 intake will open in late October 2024.
We announce applications opening for all of our courses via our mailing list. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive these notifications or have any queries about this course, please email arc.academy@ucl.ac.uk.
Feedback from our previous participants:
"I have gained confidence and feel able to explain what an evaluation is and how it should be conducted."
"It has made the whole process of evaluation much clearer and more systematic."
"I will think more about my stakeholders, primary, and secondary users in relation to survey design and dissemination of findings.
"I thought the whole course was really well designed."
“I really enjoyed the course. I have learned a huge amount in a short time.”
“This course had really developed my skills and knowledge in the evaluation of an intervention. It has definitely improved my ability to gather qualitatively and quantitative data for analysis.”