Needs Assessment
We offer a range of flexible research services, helping you to better understand the drivers of behaviour, the views and attitudes of key groups, and enabling co-design opportunities for your service users or customers.
We conduct comprehensive needs assessments and work with you to interpret the findings and identify the right actions to take to improve outcomes. We produce visually impactful reports, infographics and films to share findings, and to encourage stakeholder engagement and buy-in .
We have particular expertise in carrying out research with vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups, and about sensitive topics such as crime, mental health, public health issues, families, social care, regeneration, and public service design and commissioning.
Why TONIC?
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Academic Rigour
Our findings are triangulated with a deep understanding of the literature to identify priority groups, generate accurate problem definition, and focus on what works.
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Frontline Experience
Our extensive practitioner, service manager and commissioner experience in health, social care and criminal justice ensures findings and recommendations are actionable and make a difference.
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Lived Experience
We take a Trauma Informed approach, co-design research tools and methods with people with relevant lived experience, and ensure the voice of service users shapes decision making.
Case study
Cheshire Needs Assessment for the Support Needs of Survivors of Sexual Violence
In Cheshire it was estimated that there were approximately 21,000 victims of sexual abuse and violence in the year ending March 2017. However, only 11% of this estimated number was reported to the police, which is significantly lower than the national average of 17%.
TONIC was commissioned by the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire to conduct a needs assessment for sexual abuse and violence survivors in order to inform the development of a strategic plan that aims to improve care and support.
Our approach
TONIC conducted a literature review to identify good practice, alongside a consultation involving 42 survivors and 73 stakeholders who shared their knowledge and experience of the current support services available in Cheshire. We also mapped local services and existing pathways, and analysed data about local service performance. We conducted thematic analysis of qualitative data to identify key trends that emerged from all strands of this assessment. Stakeholders overwhelmingly believed that the services currently available to survivors of sexual abuse and violence were of a very high standard; although, there were mixed and contrasting views around awareness of services and the experience of the criminal justice system. The general consensus was that there is a need for better joint working and the most consistent stakeholder concern was sustainable funding. Disclosure was a dominant theme that emerged from survivor engagement in the consultation particularly around the need to be believed at the point of disclosing their experience of sexual abuse and violence.
The outcome
Using the direct feedback provided by stakeholders and survivors alongside the literature review and data analysis, TONIC produced a comprehensive report that concluded with 10 recommendations informed by the consultation. The 10 recommendations proposed by TONIC cover several areas of the sector including, but not limited to, the experience with the criminal justice system, reducing waiting lists, improving sexual abuse and violence training for police officers, and providing a wider choice of counselling options.
These recommendations were informed by the voice of survivors, service users and stakeholders, and the literature, qualitative and quantitative data we gathered during the exercise and were presented to the commissioner as the areas that should take priority.
“The product is excellent, and I have spent some considerable time reading through and identifying appropriate actions for the future. Thanks for your efforts a really useful insight for us.”
Get in touch
If you’re considering a process or impact evaluation and need an experienced external evaluation team, contact us today - we’d love the chance to discuss your project.