Evaluations
The Matrix evaluations team is in demand by policy-makers across central and local government. Working in the policing, security, criminal justice, social care, health, education and transport sectors, we provide robust, clear evidence of the effectiveness of programmes and initiatives. This includes understanding the rationale of a programme, investigating how it is resourced, and whether it has met its intended outcomes.
We use a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods and provide bespoke evaluation designs to every new assignment. We offer clients expertise in data collection and analysis; the conduct of interviews and focus groups; and, the operation of online surveys. We have a reputation for producing policy-relevant reports to a publishable standard, and regularly contribute to academic journals and conferences.
Our recent and current work has covered the following key areas of public policy:
Policing
Home Office: Researching the links between organised crime and homicide. This research will contribute to the evidence base on violent crime, organised crime, and the links between the two. Our findings will contribute to the formulation of the Home Office’s policy to help deliver the government’s Action Plan for Tackling Violence 2008-11.
Youth Justice
Youth Justice Board: Reconviction study on risk-based interventions for young offenders. Our study measured the impact of the risk-based approach to intervention planning on reconviction outcomes for young offenders, which was piloted in four Youth Offending Teams. The pilots targeted interventions to offenders according to their risk of re-offending or causing serious harm to themselves or others. Our work has been influential in helping the Youth Justice Board roll out the national ‘scaled approach’ to interventions.
Anti-Social Behaviour
Department of Children, Schools and Families: Evaluation of Challenge and Support. We are evaluating the use and effectiveness of support measures (youth work, etc.) alongside enforcement action (anti-social behaviour orders, etc.) for young people in 52 areas that have received Youth Task Force funding to establish a Challenge and Support Project. Our work will help measure how far the programme is contributing to the delivery of Public Service Agreement 14, to ‘put more children and young people on a path to success.’
Criminal Justice
Ministry of Justice: Offender Management Cohort Study: The OMCCS is a longitudinal study of offenders serving community orders and suspended sentence orders. Working with NatCen (the Nationsal Centre for Social Research), the study is assessing the effectiveness of interventions in reducing offending behaviour and evaluating the national offender management model. Matrix’s principal area of responsibility is the creation and analysis of a universal dataset containing self-reported data from the cohort and data drawn from case management systems.
Children’s Services
Youth Justice Board: A Review of children’s services provision for young offenders and young people at risk of offending. Our review addressed gaps in the YJB’s knowledge and provided evidence of the proportion and characteristics of young people in the youth justice system receiving assistance from children’s services. In ascertaining how children’s services are in dealing with young offenders or young people at risk of offending, we were able to identify good practice and effective partnerships between youth offending teams and children’s services.
Adult Social Exclusion
Cabinet Office: Evaluation of the Adults Facing Chronic Exclusion (ACE) programme: The ACE programme is funding 12 innovative pilot schemes to address homelessness, mental health, physical health, drug and alcohol misuse and welfare-to-work in adults excluded from statutory services. Our are evaluating how these pilots are achieving better outcomes for individuals and communities, and testing whether this can be done more cost-effectively than with existing approaches. Our most recent interim report can be found here.
