NDTi and NIHR win European Social Services Award for CLS Research
NDTi’s Community Led Support (CLS) programme, in partnership with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded research team led by the University of Birmingham, has won a prestigious European Social Services Award (ESSA).
The annual awards recognise outstanding achievements, shining a spotlight on successful new approaches and the extraordinary ongoing work within the public social services sector.
Beating off stiff competition from across Europe, the partnership won the research and evaluation award for a recently published two year independent study of the programme.
Changing culture not just process was led by Professor Robin Miller at the University of Birmingham and involved researchers from King’s College London, University of Kent and other members of the NIHR funded Adult Social Care & Social Work Priority Programme. The evaluation provided both objective assessment of the impact of CLS and an understanding of how the programme achieves change.
The evaluation was led by Professor Robin Miller at the University of Birmingham, who said:
“We’re delighted to see our work recognised on a European stage. The collaboration demonstrates the importance of researchers and practice organisations working together, and I am delighted on behalf of our multi-university team and our contributors with lived experience of social care. This award goes to everyone involved.”
The research project was co-designed with NDTi’s Community Led Support team, participating local authorities, and with people with lived experience of social care. It focussed on culture change, distributive leadership, co-production and the overall impacts of CLS.
Jenny Pitts, Community Led Support programme lead at NDTi, said:
“It was a pleasure to work with the team at NIHR to really understand the impact the programme is having. Over the past 10 years we’ve had the immense privilege of working alongside 35 local authorities to support them in transforming how they deliver adult social care.
“This research verifies a picture of the positive impact we have seen across the local areas we have worked with. It’s a long-term, system-wide, strengths-based and collaborative way of working that demonstrates what’s possible when you work differently with communities and put people at the heart of the approach.”
NDTi was also shortlisted for a service delivery award for Small Supports. The programme was recognised for its work to support communities to set up small, local organisations to enable people to live a life they choose, at home rather than in long stay inpatient settings. Recent research indicates that Small Supports organisations not only offer improved support but also represent a significant investment in the local economy and benefit local health and care budgets.