South London Evaluation Advice Clinic continues

From February to May 2025, partners across south London ran the first phase of the South London Evaluation Advice Clinic. 

Our aim was simple: support busy front-line teams with timely and pragmatic support to plan evaluations and measure what matters. Initial feedback from the pilot has been positive. Our Impact Report sets out what we did and what changed for the people who used the clinic. 

Evaluation is not extra work; it is how we learn, improve, and make the case for what works for patients and communities, using measures that make sense in day-to-day services. We are now launching a second phase in October 2025 so more teams can benefit.

Working together for delivery

The clinic is a partnership across our local system. It brings together Health Innovation Network South London, King’s Health Partners teams, and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London, working with both South East London and South West London Integrated Care Boards. 

I supported project management throughout the pilot, and led its evaluation and the Impact Report, under the oversight of the project lead. 

We designed a simple, straightforward model. Colleagues completed a short booking form to register their interest. We held a brief triage to understand the project and their ask. Then we ran a focused advice session, often with two expert advisers from our partner organisations, so teams left with a sharper question, a simple logic model, sensible outcomes to track, ideas for data they could collect, and links to practical tools. 

It was an advice clinic, not a full evaluation service, and it fit well with everyone’s busy diaries. 

Early results for services and teams

Phase one reached a wide mix of teams across NHS, VCSE, and primary care settings. 

We received 21 expressions of interest and supported 16 projects across south London (12 in south east London; four in south west London). Projects included clinical quality improvement and community programmes that aim to reduce inequalities. 

After their final session, people told us the clinic was helpful, the booking process was clear, and they would recommend it to colleagues. Most reported feeling more confident about planning and running an evaluation. One reported: “It was a real pleasure to speak to [clinic advisers] about my projects. The time although short was really helpful and fruitful and helped me to start my thinking. I hope the service continues!”

Early changes included clearer evaluation plans and more consistent outcome measures that teams could use straight away.

How this supports NHS priorities

Evaluation helps services learn fast, compare approaches fairly, and focus on outcomes that matter to patients and communities. A simple “front door” lowers the barrier to getting started. It helps teams collect useful data, build shared measures, build evaluation skills, and show impact across south London. 

This pilot directly builds on KHP Women and Children’s Ask the Institute model. It also begins to support NHSE’s 2025/26 ICB blueprint, which places greater emphasis on robust evaluation and good data to improve decision-making and accountability. 

Learnings from the pilot

Three lessons stood out from phase one:

1. Make it easy to use. Simple booking, short triage, and focused sessions increased uptake, knowledge exchange and value. When people knew what to expect and it fit their day, they showed up and got it done.
2. Small, timely steps work. A clearer question, a one-page logic model, or a sensible outcome changed the direction of a project. People left with next steps they could act on this week, not a long report they could not use.
3. Follow-through matters. Brief prep, a short written summary, and where helpful, two advisers kept momentum and confidence high. Scheduling any second conversation early helped teams stick with their plan.

Phase two starts in October 2025

We are launching the next phase in October 2025. If you are planning a service change or improvement and want proportionate, practical evaluation advice, we would love to hear from you.

Register your interest: Complete the short form

About the author
Sapna Kurade is a Project Officer at King’s Improvement Science within King’s Health Partners and a Project Manager with the South West London Integrated Care Board. Sapna’s work reflects what she cares about most in public health: building strong partnerships across sectors, supporting people doing meaningful work, and creating space for reflection and learning. Her aim is to help improve health and reduce health inequalities. 

Acknowledgements and further information
Delivered in partnership by Health Innovation Network South London, King’s Health Partners teams and NIHR ARC South London, with South East London and South West London Integrated Care Boards. Thank you to all advisers and to every team who took part. To learn more, see the Impact Report.