Integrating recovery-oriented and realistic evaluation principles into an evaluation of a Partners in Recovery programme
| Author | Jessica Griffiths,Lyndal Sleep,Lynne Briggs,Margarete Barry,Paul Harris |
| DOI | 10.1177/1035719X20944010 |
| Published date | 01 September 2020 |
| Date | 01 September 2020 |
| Subject Matter | Practice Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/1035719X20944010
Evaluation Journal of Australasia
2020, Vol. 20(3) 140 –156
© The Author(s) 2020
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DOI: 10.1177/1035719X20944010
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Integrating recovery-oriented
and realistic evaluation
principles into an evaluation
of a Partners in Recovery
programme
Paul Harris , Margarete Barry,
Lyndal Sleep , Jessica Griffiths
and Lynne Briggs
Griffith University, Australia
Abstract
Partners in Recovery (PIR) was an Australian government initiative designed to
provide support and service linkage for individuals with complex needs living with
severe and persistent mental illness. This article reports the external evaluation
process and approach that was undertaken of the Gold Coast Partners in Recovery
initiative between September and December 2015 regarding the achievement of PIR
outcomes. The evaluation of this consortia-based initiative was framed using principles
of realistic evaluation and recovery-oriented practice. Numerous evaluations of
similar initiatives have recently been undertaken, each adopting different approaches
and methods in accordance with local needs and expectations. The incorporation of
realistic evaluation with recovery-oriented principles in this mixed methods research
design, however, offers a unique perspective. This can be used to inform future
developments in evaluative practice particularly in the area of recovery-oriented
services and/or partnership-focused, capacity-building initiatives.
Keywords
consortium, mental health, partnership, realist evaluation, recovery
Corresponding author:
Lyndal Sleep, School of Human Services and Social Work, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport,
Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia.
Email: l.sleep@griffith.edu.au
944010EVJ0010.1177/1035719X20944010Evaluation Journal of AustralasiaHarris et al.
research-article2020
Practice Article
Harris et al. 141
Introduction
Partners in Recovery (PIR) is an Australian government initiative designed to provide
support and service linkage for individuals with complex needs living with severe and
persistent mental illness. It aims to improve collaboration, coordination and integra-
tion of services and supports from the multiple sectors clients may benefit from. Local
PIR consortia have been established across the country. This article examines and
reports the evaluation process and approach undertaken for one local PIR initiative,
the Gold Coast Partners in Recovery (GCPIR). The evaluation was an external evalu-
ation undertaken between September and December 2015, regarding the achievement
of PIR outcomes (as identified in the programme logic for the national evaluation).
The evaluation was framed using realistic evaluation principles (Pawson & Tilley,
2004; Porter & O’Halloran, 2012) with recovery-oriented principles and practices
embedded in the research design.
The GCPIR consortium Operational Management Group (OMG) accepted the
researchers’ proposed tender for a context-centred evaluation (Comfort & Hoggarth,
2010) because it allowed for dynamic changes and diverse viewpoints to be recog-
nised. The evaluation engaged a total of 32 stakeholders including Advisory Group
members and internal stakeholders such as Facilitators, OMG and Sponsor Group
members. An iterative approach using key principles of realist evaluation was deemed
appropriate for considering the local context and what was working for who and in
which circumstances. The evaluators also sought to integrate a recovery-oriented
framework, derived from mental health practice, into the design of the evaluation as
this was consistent with the overall objectives of the programme. Although there are
diverse interpretations of recovery-oriented mental health practice (Davidson et al.,
2010), the general focus is on hope, self-determination, self-management, empower-
ment and inclusion (Commonwealth of Australia, 2013; Gilburt et al., 2013; Le
Boutillier et al., 2015). Recovery-oriented techniques including strengths-based or an
appreciative enquiry approach (Cooperrider & Whitney, 2005; Mellish, 1999) to inter-
viewing and the use of metaphor were integrated into the evaluation design.
Numerous evaluations of other PIR initiatives have recently been undertaken, each
adopting different approaches and methods in accordance with local needs and expec-
tations (see, for example, Cheverton & Janamian, 2016; Hancock et al., 2018; Trankle
& Reath, 2019). The incorporation of realistic evaluation principles which integrate
recovery-oriented principles and practices in this evaluation, however, offers a unique
perspective. Gulliver et al. (2018) did present an account of an evaluation of PIR in
Canberra using a realist approach and the concept of recovery, but focused on opera-
tionalising the concept of recovery rather than embedding a recovery framework into
the research design. Inspired by the Australasian Evaluation Society’s (2019) priority
to influence and promote evaluation practice, it is hoped that this article contributes to
the diverse application of realist evaluation principles in practice (Kazi, 2007; Weir,
2007) and particularly the integration of recovery-oriented practices and realist evalu-
ation principles in evaluative research. Lessons learned from the evaluation have the
potential to harness current change dynamics and diverse views towards future change
processes of continued hope, respect, self-determination and inclusivity.
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