Community Services: Supporting Independence, Empowering Lives

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Latest news…

Community services – Celebration of strengths based working event 2/12/2025 Workshop 3 goal- and outcomes focussed approaches

What’s working well

Provider are using various Outcomes frameworks which allow for person centred approach and tracking of outcomes achieved e.g. STAR tool

Providers are developing short term offers – e.g. 12 week programme with clear goals set.

For people with complex needs, it can be tricky to set, short-term meaningful goals and show evidence they have been met. Nonetheless, some providers are working in this way with people with multiple disabilities, but they are having to do more work in developing robust systems for demonstrating their impact.

Even better if

Reviews were conducted in a way which facilitates strengths-based working. Quite often they are done with a very quick turnaround which doesn’t allow time for sufficient planning, information gathering and engagement. Rushed reviews means it is more difficult for providers to empower an individual through their Care Act review.

We were able to spend more time with individuals as part of the review process to understand them well and set meaningful goals. More time would also allow for someone’s full circle of support to be involved in the process.

Reviews had several stages to allow for planning, preparation, the review itself and then any follow up. This would give more time an opportunity for partnership planning and make them more person centred/ strengths based.

We need to create the conditions where it is possible for an individual to lead their own review, not just wait for DCC to trigger a review. This empowered approach will lend itself better to strengths-based conversations involving those people who are natural support as well as paid.

Would be better outcome if the original DCC case manager, who knows the person best, can continue with them from assessment to review. However, this is not currently possible. Could the provider step into the role of case manager instead?

All providers should have a good knowledge of what constitutes eligible needs under the Care Act to be able to adopt the role of case manager on behalf of the individual.

We invested time in teaching people how to use TECs so they are properly supported to transition from paid/ in person support to digital.

We had a good one- stop shop in terms of information on Community assets available to support strengths-based approaches. There is no single directory of services/ support available across Devon.

Transparency of personal budget between individual, DCC and provider along with freedom to be more creative with budget.

How are you actually making it work?

Developing Life goals and then working backwards to break down into smaller goals to track progress. Some goals may be eligible goals for social care, and some won’t. this doesn’t matter as they might be achieved a different way but are crucial to the overall plan. Person centred planning tools are key such as PATH planning PATH | Person Centred Planning | Person Centred Planning Tools

Understanding Care Act and eligibility is crucial for providers to be able to support with reviews and strengths-based working. There is free training available from DCC to support providers, which is based upon our practitioner training. Some providers now include this in induction of new staff.

Providers assessing / reviewing people every 3 months based upon their PATH and short-term goals.

247 grid www.247grid.com is available for use at Care Act review. (Contact your community team for details).

Individual service funds (ISF) can allow for more freedom, creativity and positive risk taking in goal planning. This approach doesn’t necessarily require an ISF to achieve it though.

ISFs also empower the individual to understand their budget and take control of how they spend it, even if they don’t have full capacity. 247 grid can hep with this.

Empowering people to tell their own story at review. Provider leading and coordinating the review on behalf of the individual, where they cannot do so themselves.

Providers don’t have to wait for DCC to review an individual. They, or the individual themselves, initiate the review. This is a valid approach to the statutory review, so long as it contains the necessary elements from a Care Act point of view.

Providers have built good knowledge of local community assets so they can direct individuals to these resources instead of defaulting to social care funded support.

If individuals and providers are clear on the budget and eligible needs, it may be possible for other needs to be met through other funding sources.

2/12/2025 Community services – Celebration of strengths based working event

The Community services co-production group held an event in the Coaver Conference Centre on the 2^nd December to celebrate strengths-based working in Devon. Around 60 organisations attended in total including personal care, day and enabling providers, short-term services, VCSE partners, Devon Partnership Trust and the Integrated Care Board. The event showcased good practice and invited participants to tell us where their organisations are on their strengths-based journey and how they have made an impact on people’s lives.

(Photo: Linzi Gow, Principal Social Worker- opening remarks)

The event was opened by Linzi Gow, new Principal Social Worker for Integrated Adult Social Care in Devon. We heard from Callum and Alex who have received support from Devon County Council’s Reaching For Independence (RFI) team which helped them develop key independent living skills, build confidence and secure employment. We heard from Trudy, who has an Individual Service Fund with New Key, which has enabled her to become more independent and play a very active role in her community, living a life of meaning and purpose. Rosemary from Teign CVS told us Yvonne’s story about how she was supported to overcome her challenges and take control of her life.

In the afternoon, the 4 workshops invited participants to tell us how they are working in a goal-focussed way and making the most of community assets. We also drilled down into dementia support in Devon and invited participants to influence and shape the development of the new Bridgit Care (app) for carers. Devon County Council’s workforce development colleagues shared strengths-based training opportunities for providers and VCSE partners.

We would like to thank everyone who joined us and took the time to input into the discussion. The workshop notes and slides will be published here: Community Services: Supporting Independence, Empowering Lives – Provider Engagement Network We looking forward to working with you again in the near future.

Photo: The Community Services Co-production group: Ruth Wells, Joe Clark-Skinner, Leila Manion, Diana Cole, Lucie Spiers, Rosemary Newman, Nrvan Gopal, Helen Rainbird.

Below are various resources that were shared at the event:

04/06/2025 – Community Services Co-production Re-Launch

On the 4^th June, the Community services Co-production group held an event to relaunch the recommissioning of services for people in receipt of adult social care. Community services include personal care, enabling, day opportunities and PA’s/ Microproviders.

The Co-production group is a group of practitioners, care providers, VCSE organisations and professional lived experience representatives who have been working together for 18 months to look at how they can inform the recommissioning of community services.

The group had conducted some wider engagement work with people with lived experience to get the views of those who are seldom heard. The themes gathered, which captured what is important to those people, shaped the event.

The event attendees came from a range of different partners: care providers, VCSE organisations and the VCSE Assembly, professional Lived Experience, Carer’s representatives and Devon County Council, Integrated Care board and Devon Partnership Trust practitioners.

We ran workshops which gave attendees the opportunity to explore some of those themes further. Groups came together to discuss and feedback on strengths-based/ goal-focussed working, the role of the VCSE sector, carers and replacement care, and people’s experience of mental health and wellbeing support.

The Community services co-production group will shortly be reviewing the feedback and looking at next steps. More information can be found below:

• Theme 1: Strengths-based approaches (goal setting, transport, and employment) – Liz Wood, Assistant Director (Disabilities), Integrated Adult Social Care Operations, supported by colleagues from Reaching For Independence, Transport services and Learn Devon. Workshop 1 strengths and goals

• Theme 2: The role of the VCSE sector in Community Services – Stephanie Lewis, Torbay, Plymouth and Devon VCSE Assembly. Community services re commissioning Notes VCSE workshop

• Theme 3: Carers and replacement care – Candy Worf, Carers lead, Integrated Adult Social Care Commissioning. Replacement Care Workshops Summary Responses 04.06.25

• Theme 4: People’s experience of mental health services and wellbeing support– Sara Traynor, Expert by Experience Lead, Devon Mental Health, Learning Disabilities & Neurodiversity (MHLDN) Collaborative and Tom Cox, Devon Mental Health Alliance. Workshop 4.2 MHWB

Below are useful links to various resources used during this piece of work:

26/10/23

The Community Services Brokerage Improvement changes are going live next week on Monday 30^th October. The changes will:

Ensure that we treat all our providers fairly and equitably
Promote Anti-Racist practice
Save time for Providers, AST co-ordinators and for Care Managers
Provide clear and transparent decision making regarding offers of care.

The key changes relate to how offers of care are accepted. Under the new way of working, offers will be accepted by the Arranging Support Team (AST) using the Brokerage Support Tool (BST), which will consider whether the key requirements have been met, including…

Best Value; has the agreed contract cost been met
Optimum start date; can the offer start within the required timescale
Best spaced schedule of visits, are the visits proposed with an adequate amount of time between visits
Have any specific requirements been addressed.

Timescales for responding to referrals has also changed and offers must be sent to AST within four hours of referral receipt.

For further information please go to the Frequently Asked Questions that have been prepared for this change.

16/08/2023

The Community Services Review programme is recruiting stakeholder representatives to help us redesign services that support people to live independently at home.

The scope of the Community services programme includes Personal or Domiciliary care, Day care and Enabling services, Personal Assistants, and Micro-providers (8 or less people working together to provide care).

We recognise people’s experiences, expertise and ideas can make a difference in helping us to challenge thinking, develop new ideas and improve services. Our aim is to improve how Community services work with individuals to promote their independence.

Details of the role

Representatives are sought from the Devon adult social care provider workforce, adult social care and health practitioner workforce, Voluntary and Community sector organisations, as well as service user and/or carer representatives – probably 2 from each.

Representatives will support the programme via a Co-design advisory group which will inform the design of the work streams.

Applicants should live / receive/ provide, arrange, or deliver relevant services within the Devon boundary.

It is anticipated that representatives will meet routinely at a frequency which supports the pace of the work programme. However, Terms of Reference (timings, duration, and method of meetings) will be agreed by the group.

Awareness training on Co-production will be provided as part of the introduction process. Provisional dates for the awareness training are the 14^th September and 3^rd October. This will be via Microsoft teams (virtual).

It is anticipated that the work programme will span several years in total, but representatives may wish to join us for key stages of the work as set out in the project plan.

Key information can be found here: Community Services: Supporting Independence, Empowering Lives – Provider Engagement Network (devon.gov.uk)

Further background information on the programme will be provided as part of the induction process.

How to Apply

Please email socialcarebusinessrelations-mailbox@devon.gov.uk by 5pm on the 31^st August 2023

Information required will include:

Name
Email
Phone
Where you work in Devon
Tell us why you would like to be involved

Selection will take place the week beginning 4^th September and may require a short virtual meeting with facilitators.

25/04/2023: Thank you!

In February, Devon County Council asked to hear your views on ‘Community Services’, by which we mean Personal Care, Enabling and Day Services. The survey was the first part of a wider community services review; looking at the current offer and how, with the meaningful involvement of stakeholders, we shape the services moving forward.

Now that the survey has closed we wanted to thank you for the responses we received! We had a great number of Provider responses and the survey feedback was overwhelmingly thoughtful and creative. We are committed to continuing to work collaboratively with you and once we have completed reviewing all responses we’ll be in contact with an update on the next stage of the coproduction approach.

February 2023: Launch of the Community Services Review Survey

Devon County Council would like those delivering, receiving, and supporting people in receipt of Community Services, to take part in the Community Based Review Survey.

This Survey gives you the opportunity to feedback on what works well, what could be changed and what you would like to see improved in the future. It is the first phase of working together on the Community Services Review and our longer term commissioning approach and further opportunities for feedback and involvement will follow.

June 2023

Devon County Council sent out a survey to individuals/organisations that deliver, receive, and supporting people in receipt of Community Services, to take part in the Community Based Review.

This Survey gave an opportunity to feedback on what works well, what could be changed and what you would like to see improved in the future. It is the first phase of working together on the Community Services Review and our longer-term commissioning approach and there will be further opportunities for feedback.

The presentation below is the initial feedback from these surveys and the key themes that have been identified. This presentation has been shared at sector meetings with the market. Thank you to all for participating in this first phase and we will inform you of next steps.

CS Stage 1 All external Stakeholders feedback.pdf

20 October 2023

Useful links

Providers and Personal Assistants/micro providers who deliver community-based services, please select this link to participate with the survey Community Based Review First Phase – Survey For Providers (office.co m)

Power Point describing the first stage of our engagement: Community Services Review – First Stage stakeholder engagement 2023 (1).pdf

Easy read version of the form is available: Community Based Review Survey easy read.docx

The Survey will close on Monday 27th March.

If you require the easy read version please send the form once completed to socialcarebusinessrelations-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

Background

Devon County Council, alongside our partners in The Integrated Care System which is a partnership of health and social care organisations working together with local communities across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to improve people’s health, wellbeing and care. We are collaboratively undertaking a review of services that are delivered in the community, these are Community Services.

Devon County Council are using the term “Community Services” which means; personal care, Enabling, Day services, and PA/micro providers.

The purpose of this Community Services Review is to help us shape and inform our longer-term commissioning strategy and how we work together with providers and other stakeholders to support the delivery of Community Based Services.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this work or would like to get involved then please contact the Social Care Business Relations mailbox using ‘Community Services Query’ as the subject line.