Mixed-methods evaluation protocol for the Now & Next programme: a codesigned, family-centred peer-led caregiver support programme.

Abstract

As the rates of child developmental delay and disability (referred onwards as developmental needs) increase globally, so does the number of caregivers caring for a child with developmental needs. It is well known that caring for a child with disability and/or delay leads to many challenges. While historically intervention services have focused on the child, it is increasingly being recognised that a whole family intervention approach is needed to improve both child and caregiver outcomes. The Now & Next programme is a family-centred, peer-led support programme targeted at improving caregiver skills in developing strengths-based goals across child, family and personal domains, taking practical steps to achieve these goals and building a support network. In doing so, the programme aims to improve goal achievement as well as caregivers' capacity to plan and navigate supports, sense of competence, empowerment, community support and overall quality of life. This study will use a mixed-methods design, drawing on both quantitative and qualitative components. Quantitative data will measure changes in caregiver and child outcomes compared with a control group, while qualitative data will investigate caregivers' experiences with the programme, including their perspectives on facilitators and barriers to programme engagement. Appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics will be used to evaluate quantitative data. Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis. The study was approved by the University of New South Wales research ethics committee (iRECS10368). Findings will be shared through conference presentations and published manuscripts. ACTRN12626000083392 (Trial registered on ANZCTR).