Nixon et al. (January
2006) Interim evaluation
of rehabilitation projects
for families at risk of
losing their homes as
a result of anti-social
behaviour
England
• CommunityZoutreach
worker
• Residential care worker
• Family support workers
• Advocacy
• Counselling (non
specific)
• Support with service
and resource access
(including benefits)
• Parent training
• Skill development
Psychological therapy
(cognitive-behavioural
anger management)
• Personal∕social∕family
support
• Health services (not
psychologyZ counselling)
• Assessment
Impact on user outcomes: (incomplete data )
• threat to home 'stabilised’ for 80% of families (N=45Z56 families)
• improvement in school attendance for 84% (N=31 Z38)
• maintained tenancy or had a 'planned move’ for 95% (N=73Z77)
• stabilisation of complaints for 15% (N=9Z62)
• reduction in level of complaints for 82% (N=50Z62)
Referral agencies perceptions of the impact of the intervention:
"The large majority of referrers viewed the projects in a positive light for a variety of
reasons...Despite the very positive views expressed, some referrers also had reservations
about making a judgement on how successful the projects were in dealing with all types
of families.
"...Some referrers thought that the project didn’t really offer anything new or
different and that similar types of provision is already available, albeit targeted
slightly differently, such as Sure Start and work administered by YOT teams or YISPs.
...Reservations were also expressed as to how successful any one project could be at
addressing long-standing, deep-seated problems that may be at the root of a family’s
behaviour.
...Notwithstanding these reservations, most referral agencies assessed the projects
as being successful at helping to reduce the risk of eviction in the long term... (and)
confirmed that there had been positive outcomes such as reduced complaints of anti-
social behaviour, a stabilisation of the family’s tenancy, improvement in the condition of
a property or improvement in the welfare of the children.”
Families views on the service:
Overwhelmingly, these assessments were positive...Many families felt like they had been
given a new start, given stability and a general feeling of being more in control and
better-able to make decisions and choices. Some also described changes in their family
relationships and the way they communicate with each other.
Appendix 4 Summary of in-depth studies 53