Social Return on Investment (SROI) Analysis
Report summary
The Think Impact Consultancy was commissioned by WISE Employment to produce a Social Return on Investment (SROI) report on WISE IDEA’s ‘WISE Ways to Work’ (WWtW) pilot program, showing the social value of vocational rehabilitation and employment for people with mental illness.
‘WISE Ways to Work’ (WWtW) was a pilot program which led to the development of WISE IDEA.
Social Return on Investment (SROI) is an internationally-recognised approach to understand and measure the impact of a program or organisation. Outcomes for stakeholders are analysed and allocated monetary value to compare with investment required for the program. This provides an indication of cost-effectiveness in relation to the social value generated.
Findings
WISE IDEA’s WWtW pilot program develops, evaluates and promotes programs designed to assist people with mental health conditions achieve their vocational and/or employment goals. These include the pilot programs, Employ Your Mind and WISE IDEA, developed to help participants prepare for the world of work and be supported on a graded pathway to employment. The programs have been designed to help participants build key skills for work such as concentration, memory, problem solving, and mental and physical health management.
Think Impact analysed the social value created by WWtW over its 24-month pilot from February 2018 to February 2020.
Find out more about WISE IDEA programs
Every $1 invested in WISE IDEA’s WWtW pilot program, created $4.97 of social value
An investment of $1,461,057 in the program generated outcomes valued at over $7M for a range of stakeholders, including participants and carers the Federal and State Governments, funders, and employer partners.
Impact
Designed for enduring impact
Enduring Impact requires outcomes in three dimensions: Internal, External, and Functional (knowledge and capability). The SROI analysis found that the foundations were in place for WWtW to have a strong enduring impact.
Stakeholders repeatedly emphasised that the individually-tailored approach of the program was critical to its impact.
An inclusive approach
WWtW engaged closely with employers, including provision of training and practical support, to facilitate an inclusive approach to employment.
A bridge between systems
Employment, disability support, and mental health systems are fragmented.
WWtW bridged this gap by providing a continuum of support from vocational rehabilitation and health management through to paid employment. It also coordinated support between the mental health and employment support sectors.
A range of positive outcomes
The SROI analysis identified a range of positive outcomes for stakeholders, valued at nearly five times the investment in WWtW.
Participants
Participants’ mental health, self-esteem, and social connections improved, as well as employment prospects and financial wellbeing.
Carers
Mental health and other benefits to participants led to increased quality-of-life for carers through improved emotional wellbeing and family relationships.
Referrers
WWtW enabled referral agencies to increase the value of their client support and the job satisfaction of staff.
Employers
As well as improved understanding and reduced stigma, business performance and other value flowed from being an inclusive employer.
Funders
Lessons from supporting WWtW as an innovative demonstration project improved understanding of funding innovation.
Governments
Federal and State governments benefit from increased tax revenue and reduced healthcare and welfare benefit payments due to improvements in mental health and employment prospects.
Employer feedback
The feedback from employers interviewed about WWtW was overwhelmingly positive. From an employer’s perspective the program was seen as meeting a key need and achieving this to a very high standard. The key aspects of the program that were highlighted as very positive were:
- Staff expertise – the staff working for WWtW were seen as experts in their field regarding understanding mental health conditions at work and able to provide the right level of support to the employers offering placements. Staff were also applauded for their ability to build rapport with the host employers.
- Tailored support – the employers all commented on how the employment placements were tailored to ensure that the employer and employee gained the maximum benefit. Employers who had provided multiple placements noted the individualised tailoring as key factor in ensuring success.
- Adaptable – employers also commented that the WWtW approach was not a ‘cookie cutter’, the adaptable nature of the support on offer was seen as vital to ensuring a successful placement.
- Responsive – the WWtW team was seen as very responsive if any issues arose and were great at working out effective solutions to tackle any issues that arose.
- Understanding – employers also commented that the WWtW team showed a deep understanding about the issues that might occur for an employer, particularly one embarking on offering placements for the first time. This understanding of the employer point of view assisted in developing the teamwork and rapport that existed between host employers and the WWtW team.
“The [WWtW] team are great, the occupational therapists really know their stuff and will work alongside you to ensure the placement is a success. That is what drives them” – Employer.
“I started to believe in myself a bit more, through seeing the positive results in the program. They have shown me an internal strength that I didn’t know I had. I know I’m still getting there but I would say that’s been the biggest so far” – Participant
“I’m proud to be part of something that is successful and becomes part of their story and enables them to change their story and future” – Employer partner
“We would spend hours looking for things for him to do. Now he is working three days and we are not having those conversations about what he can do as much. Now we can do our own thing and not having to worry about it as much” – Carer
“I didn’t know what my options were with my depression.. I worked most of my life and now have mental health problems. I went on a pretty horrible downward slide and needed something to stop it. WISE helped me to stop it and turned my life around to now have a positive outlook”– Participant
Statement of Report Assurance
A Statement of Report Assurance has been issued by Social Value International, certifying that this report complies with the Principles of Social Value. The Assurance Standards are available from Social Value International.
Full report
This is a summary of the full report produced by Think Impact which includes details of the scope, methodology, and findings – available from WISE Employment. For the full report, please email WISE IDEA.
Think Impact is a certified B Corporation and member of the Research Society and Social Value International, Think Impact is a AA1000 Licensed Assurance Provider (000-214).