The Outcomes Star

The Outcomes Star is a tool for measuring the outcomes of work with homeless people. There are alternative versions available for women’s refuges, young care leavers/16-26 year olds and a version called the Recovery Star for the mental  health sector. The tool is supported by guidance for managers and front-line workers, a training manual and database for analysing results. Public training courses are also available.

The original version of the Outcomes Star was developed by Triangle in 2004 for St Mungo's. After this Triangle developed and adapted it for use by a number of other service providers working with homeless people, substance misuse, young care leavers and women fleeing domestic violence. The various improvements were then brought together in a definitive version of the Star, funded and published by the London Housing Foundation.  

Visit the Outcomes Star website - www.outcomesstar.org.uk - for more information and to download free resources.

The Star is now widely used in a range of sectors and has been welcomed by service providers and commissioners alike. Here are just a few of the comments people have made:

“The Outcomes Star measurement system has generated a considerable amount of interest within the sector and we view it as an example of positive practice in relation to tracking individual development and progress against multiple vulnerabilities”  
Audit Commission

“I felt fully involved; it was clear and easy to understand and focused on me as a whole person, not just as a problem. It was a considerable boost to see how well I am. It felt like a conversation; felt like the first time someone had really listened to me. You can really get to know someone and know things about someone [using the Star] - even though you may think you know them well..” 
Mental health service user on the Recovery Star (version of the Outcomes Star)

“It is a powerful tool and has a massive impact in showing change over time, showing how people have changed. It breaks it all down; it is all just there, done, on one page, with no stupid long sentences. It’s easy to use and takes the pressure off us as workers” 
Swansea Cyrenians Support worker

"The information available [for the Outcomes Star] is absolutely brilliant … we use it across the social care spectrum. It has helped us recognise where clients need further support, helps staff focus on the agreed support plan so they don’t get entrenched in day to day issues and when I visit projects I can guarantee that service users will pull out their Star to show me what a difference the service is making for them”
Manager, Croftlands Trust (Carlisle)

"The Star is person-centred and whole life. It is one of the few tools that looks useful for both clients and staff and helps us demonstrate what we are doing  – it ticks a lot of boxes"
Team Manager, Norwich City assertive Outreach Team

The Motivation and Responsibility Ladder of Change

Find out about other tools Triangle have developed