This study was part of a wider mixed-methods rapid evaluation of peer-supported social care in England and Wales. This included a rapid scoping review of the international literature, documentary analysis, an assessment of how these schemes are implemented, the experiences of prison staff and of imprisoned people providing and receiving support, and an investigation of how to measure their effectiveness and cost. The latter investigation on cost and effectiveness is the focus of the study reported in this paper.
Evidence from initial scoping interviews indicated that available quantitative data was likely to be scarce. So, rather than aiming to undertake primary analysis, our focus was on guiding future data collection and analysis to support future decision making. In particular we aimed to:
- Identify relevant outcomes for assessing the effectiveness of these schemes;
- Find out what sources of data are available on costs and effectiveness, the quality and completeness of these data and who can provide the information
- Explore whether they can be measured and hence identify the data gaps;
- Understand what the barriers are to obtaining good data, and,
- Make recommendations for future data capture to assist monitoring and evaluation.
This paper focuses on how we identified appropriate costs and outcome measures, where the data could come from within England and Wales, where there are data gaps and how some of these could be addressed.
Journal article information
- Journal of publication: Public Health
- Nuffield Trust contributors: Chris Sherlaw-Johnson , Efthalia (Lina) Massou , Dr Holly Walton , Donna Gipson , Lucy Wainwright , Pei Li Ng , Stephen Morris and Prof Naomi Fulop
- Volume: 249
- Issue: December 2025
- Page range: 106007
Abstract
Objectives
In many prisons, some imprisoned individuals are trained to meet the non-personal social care needs of fellow inmates yet there is little quantitative or economic evidence of the value of these schemes. In this study we investigated how to best monitor and measure their effectiveness and cost, the current state of data collection in England and Wales and where there are data gaps.
Study design
Part of a larger multi-site rapid mixed-methods evaluation of social care peer-support services in prisons. This sub-study included a rapid scoping review, interviews with staff, a stakeholder workshop and cost survey.
Methods
We assimilated information from the different sources about the risks and benefits of peer-support initiatives in prisons, available data and scope for expanding data collection. We mapped risks and benefits to appropriate outcome measures. The cost survey was sent to 18 prisons.
Results
No routine national data are collected on these schemes. Some data are collected at a local level, but these are mainly operational and there is a lack of data with which to monitor and measure effectiveness. Costing data is limited, varies between prisons and collected infrequently. Gaps in data affect the ability to measure the impact on those imprisoned, staff and the prison system.
Conclusions
The effectiveness and cost of peer-support in prisons for social care is not routinely monitored across England and Wales. National standards should be developed alongside better and more consistent data collection so that their value can be truly assessed and different schemes can be compared.