Quantifying and valuing benefits

To calculate the Social Value created and the value for money of the STARS programme, further quantitative research was undertaken to the qualitative information collected. The research used in this analysis include:

34 STARS clients completed a survey, designed by Envoy Partnership and administered by STARS.

Treatment Outcome Profile (TOP) was provided by Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI) for a number of STARS clients who were in treatment

Arrest Data was provided by Sussex Police. This data shows frequency of arrest, not reason for arrest.

Existing STARS client records

A variety of secondary sources were used, such as the Drug Treatment Outcomes Research study (DTORS)10 and Measuring different aspects of problem drug use: methodological

are housed either by Genesis

developments. 11 Key results from the research showed:

1.

42.55% of clients who accessed STARS’ Intensive Support service, the programme and achieved a positive move-on from

STARS. This means that they had made sufficient progress in their recovery to move into alternative accommodation that was not directly supported by STARS. A further 10.64% gained significant benefits from STARS, despite not achieving a positive move-on. These are significant achievements as a high level of drop out from a programme dealing with this client group. 2.

20% of clients who access the Advice and Advocacy service

such as STARS is inevitable when

or by other social housing providers or supported to avoid eviction.

3. Data for those Intensive Support clients who are in treatment shows a significant decrease in drug use. Use of illicit opiates / opioids, crack, cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis, and other substances has all fallen, as has the injecting of nonprescribed drugs. However, alcohol use has risen, suggesting the kind of cross-addiction described above.

4. Data on arrests (or lack of arrests) was available from Suffolk police for a significant number of STARS

Figure 2: Client survey: Class A Drug Use

2.6

Arrests per client per year: All clients with a history of arrests

0.8

Before STARS After completion of STARS

10 See www.dtors.org.uk 11 Singleton, N., Murray, R., Tinsley, L., (Home Office, 2006)

Intensive Support clients. It shows that:

40% of those who have completed STARS have a history of arrests, but have not been arrested for at least six

months, suggesting that their offending has ceased. Of these,

two-thirds have not been arrested for at least two years.

For clients with a history of arrests, the number of arrests per year has fallen from 2.6 per client per year before STARS to 0.8 per

Figure 3: Client survey: Class A Drug Use

I use Class A drugs quite often, 3%

I use Class A drugs occasionally, 32% I use Class A drugs very regularly, 0% My use of Class A drugs has gone down a little, 8% My use of Class A drugs has stayed the same, 0% I don’t know, 4%

Relationship with loved one

Relationships within your family

How safe you feel

Your own health and well-being

I am completley clean from Class A drugs, 65%

4.1

3.9

4.3

5.3

7.0

My use of Class A drugs has gone down a lot, 88%

9.9

8.4

8.6

Before STARS After STARS

n=7

client per year after STARS; See Figure 2.

Caution is needed when using this data, as a low level of arrests may mean that an individual is offending but not being caught, or that they have been taken in to prison. Nonetheless, the data suggests that there has been a substantial reduction in offending levels among STARS clients.

5. A survey of STARS clients showed that 88% say that their use

of Class A drugs has gone down a lot, and 65% are now completely clean of Class A

drugs. The survey also showed that Mental Well-being has increased over time for STARS clients, that relationships have improved with family members, and that they have been feeling a little less worried about money. This is shown in Figure 3 below.

6. Telephone interviews with family members show significantly improved family relationships and perceptions of safety, and smaller but still significant changes in health and well-being. ■