For the month of November snapshot data will need to be collected using your own data collection system or LCSA’s paper tools. Please visit LSCA to access their new minimum data paper tools for Information and Referral. They comprise:
-
A weekly sheet that collects people connected to information by “in person”, by “phone”, by “email/internet”, or by “paper only” as well as weekly “assisted referrals”.
-
A monthly summary sheet where you can record figures for these categories over a whole month.
-
A monthly summary sheet where you can record “use of community infrastructure” divided into hall/room bookings and occasional users.
Here are the data collection tools for whole-of-period data for “community hub” and all other activities under the other 3 Service Activity Descriptions.
There are two sets of tools for “information” and “assisted referrals” currently on our website. The optional tools will provide you with a higher level of information than that required to be entered into the portal.
Reporting Data
As a Community Builders funded service you have agreed to provide data to Communities and Early Years (FACS) by reporting on outcomes against your service specifications. You will have access to a 'tailored' web-portal, which will show only those outcomes that your centre will have to report against. This reporting has to be done for the end-of-year figures only.
This reporting system relies on your project’s capacity to collect and report accumulated data. It is not a replacement of an organisation’s data collection and is designed for compliance and evaluation purposes of a project as well as the Community Builders Program as a whole.
In developing the reporting system ARTD based their approach on the grid outlined in Community Builders Performance Measures and Data Collection document (see RBA Framework). This provides a strong link between the reporting system and data collection tools developed by the Transition Resource Project.
Collecting Data
Some other activities require monitoring data for the entire year (e.g. Adult education classes or playgroups held throughout the year). Other activities such as Information, Referral and Booking services will be captured in 2 snapshot months per year. This means you only have to collect data for the months of October (this year will be November instead) and May.
In both instances, snapshot period data and whole of reporting period data, you will end up with a set of data for each activity. In addition to this there will be surveys that you are expected to give out to your clients to provide some qualitative (how well?) measures as well as some demographic questions.