[WiLT] Soft Outcomes Universal Learning Record (SOUL)

[WiL Admin]

Soft Outcomes Universal Learning Record (SOUL)
About the soul project

The SOUL Project grew out of a need identified by the Norfolk
voluntary and community sector to evidence the progression of their
clients in relation to informal learning. This is learning which does
not lead to a recognised qualification and takes place in a wide
variety of settings. For the purposes of the project, the term
includes personal development initiatives and situations where an
individual might not even appreciate at the time that they are
learning. Sector groups active in this area could point anecdotally to
considerable gains by clients in terms of 'soft' outcomes, such as
increased confidence and self esteem, but there was a need for an
effective system to provide evidence of the learning taking place.
Concern was expressed over the tendency for funding to be concentrated
on 'hard' outcomes, such as formal or accredited learning
opportunities and access to paid employment. More recently, funding
organisations such as The Big Lottery Fund have increasingly
recognised that 'hard' outcomes do not give a complete picture of a
client or learner's progress and therefore of a project's success.
There is, in consequence, a growing requirement that groups receiving
funding should provide evidence of 'soft' outcomes to complement 'hard
' data.

A group of voluntary organisations in Norfolk, headed by Norwich and
Norfolk Voluntary Services, therefore took the initiative of devising
a research project with The Research Centre, City College Norwich, to
achieve a number of objectives, one of which was the development of a
system to monitor and measure progression in 'soft' outcomes. The SOUL
Project received funding from The Big Lottery Fund (formerly the
Community Fund) and commenced in September 2003, continuing to the end
of February 2006.

The SOUL Record

It has always been difficult for organisations to evaluate soft
outcomes and to demonstrate how the organisation is enabling service
users to progress. Now an easy-to-use evaluation system has been
developed as a result of two years' close collaboration between
Norfolk's voluntary sector and The Research Centre, City College
Norwich. It is called The SOUL Record, (Soft Outcomes Universal
Learning) and is proving a huge success.

The SOUL Record is learner centred and focuses on solutions rather
than problems. The system concentrates on what an individual can do,
rather than things they have been unable to achieve and it is intended
as a positive experience for learners. Organisations select from a
range of questionnaires, worksheets and observational sheets so they
can use the resources best suited to an individual client's needs.
Soft outcomes for adults are divided into three main areas: 'attitude'
, 'personal / interpersonal' and 'practical' whereas for children and
young people, soft outcomes may be measured against the five outcome
areas of Every Child Matters. By measuring changes in these outcomes
over time, organisations are able to show the distance that learners,
or groups of learners, have travelled. A Spreadsheet Results Package
(SRP) helps organisations collate their results and graphically
display them, providing valuable information for funders, management,
local government or the clients / workers themselves.

Organisations who trialled The SOUL Record reported that the framework
not only provided a soft outcomes measurement, but that it also
provides a valuable diagnostic tool and helps workers to 'get to know'
new service users. The SOUL Record is a useful resource for both
one-to-one work and group work. Talking a client through The SOUL
Record is an important part of establishing a relationship with the
client and building up trust with vulnerable groups of people. For the
organisation, it also helps pinpoint where a client may require extra
support or guidance.

The SOUL Record is RARPA (Recognising And Recording Progress And
Achievement in non-accredited learning) compliant and has been
extensively trialled throughout Norfolk before being released across
the UK. One of the great strengths of The SOUL Record is that it has
been created by users, for users.

To help users collate results from The SOUL Record, each pack is
supplied with a Spreadsheet Results Package (SRP). Results are placed
into the system and it calculates totals an averages, before
automatically creating graphs for the SOUL Record user. These graphs
may be fed back to the client to show progress made, or used as
evidence for a funding application or as part of a report to
management.

SOUL 'User' Training

Training on how to use the SOUL Record is available at the cost of
£150 per person. Included in the price are:
* One days training from a recognised SOUL Trainer
* Training materials
* A copy of The SOUL Record folder
* User Guide
* CD containing electronic copies of The SOUL Record and User Guide
plus the Spreadsheet Results Package (SRP)
* Certificate of Attendance to a SOUL User Training course
* Room Hire / Location
* Travel to a suitable location by the SOUL Trainer
* Refreshments / Buffet Lunch
* Ongoing telephone and e-mail support

A course can currently be run with a minimum of eight participants and
a maximum of sixteen. Single applicants are welcome as training
sessions will be run on demand in an appropriate location. If you
would like to enquire further or book training, please complete the
form http://www.theresearchcentre.co.uk/soul/trainingform.htm or
download an application form in pdf format
http://www.theresearchcentre.co.uk/soul/Documents/SOUL%20Training%20Request.pdf.

http://www.theresearchcentre.co.uk

Posted on WiLT blog at
http://www.freecharity.org.uk/~womeninlondon/?p=473