As the broader conversation around social care evolves, the themes of transformation and renewal are more relevant than ever to Local Area Coordination. The call from Community Catalysts, NDTi, and Shared Lives Plus, outlined in an article for MJ magazine this summer titled “the breaking of a new dawn for social care“, sets out that better is possible now; we have the opportunity to start redefining systems to focus more on prevention (supporting people early, before the point of crisis), people being at the centre of decisions about the care and support they need, and building community resilience. Local Area Coordination has long championed these ambitions, and we now want to extend our reach to more councils across the UK.
A shift in thinking
National conversations about social care are moving away from a crisis-driven, deficit-focused model which sees people as the sum of their problems and the money and services required to solve them, and towards a model that sees people for their strengths and capabilities. This shift entirely aligns with the foundations of Local Area Coordination. By building relationships and communities, and supporting people to take control of their lives, Local Area Coordination has proven that strength-based, person-centred approaches are not just an aspiration, but a tangible, achievable reality. Local Area Coordination is not an ‘add-on’ to the existing service landscape; it’s a catalyst for systems-change within it. We can help provide a blueprint for how the social care system can evolve.
Reducing demand on services by preventing crisis
By supporting people before they reach the point of crisis, and helping people to build long-term capacity and resilience, Local Area Coordination helps reduce the need to draw on urgent care services like hospitals, emergency housing, mental health crisis teams, and social care teams.
Shifting from referrals to introductions
Within the service system, as it exists today, professionals will often make decisions about the type of support people need and send referrals to each other, often without factoring in the person’s consent or perspective. Local Area Coordination builds a culture and method of ‘introductions’, enabling people to make informed decisions about any formal support that is right for them before being introduced to a person within that service, rather than the faceless service itself. This reduces inefficiency and the chance of people falling between the cracks, as well as creating a better experience for the person.
Supporting people to overcome challenges
One of the most impactful changes Local Area Coordination brings is a shift in focus from seeing people as the sum of their problems, with professional support as the go-to solution, to instead seeing people, their networks, and communities as their single greatest resource. This often produces better outcomes, reduces the demand on services, and supports people to grow their connections, capacity, and resilience.
When people want or need the support of formal services, Local Area Coordination also helps break down silos by supporting different formal services to work collaboratively and holistically.
Building reciprocal support networks
People who are well-connected and who have people they can turn to in an emergency are less likely to require support from formal services. Local Area Coordination helps people to build these support networks, while sharing contributions within their networks and wider community.
A call for action
Local Area Coordination offers a proven way to achieve sustainable change within the service system. By reducing demand, building the capacity of people and whole communities, and creating continuous improvements within the service system, good change is possible with the resources we have already. We are inviting councils to please get in touch with the Network team (LACN@communitycatalysts.co.uk) to discuss how Local Area Coordination can help you make this new dawn for social care a reality.