Chris Naylor, Senior Fellow at The Kings Fund provided and overview and insight to the Kings Fund report – Refocussing the System to primary and Community Care. 

This report calls for a radical shift in the health and care system in England, emphasising the need to place primary and community care at its core to ensure long-term sustainability and effectiveness.

During his presentation, Chris delved into the underlying reasons why community-based care has yet to achieve the prominence it needs. He also outlined the essential conditions required to foster success, including a change in focus and clarity about why that is needed.

Despite these recommendations, Chris acknowledged potential obstacles that could impede the embedding of community care, such as structural reorganisation, and expectation of short-term financial 
savings.

Chris concluded by sharing further resources from the Kings Fund: 

• Making care closer to home a reality
• Realising the potential of integrated care systems
• The government's 10-year plan for health and care
  
  

Making it Happen: Sefton Council and NHS Sefton, Cheshire & Merseyside ICB

Geraldine Murphy, Programme Director for Better at Home, and Sharon Dooner, Interim Head of Ageing Well for Sefton Place, shared insights into the Better at Home programme programme’s goals and its impact on the diverse communities of Sefton.

They highlighted the distinct characteristics of Sefton’s communities, acknowledging the area’s varied social, economic, and health needs, explaining the specific challenges they aimed to tackle in Sefton and the vision for the Programme; breaking down the divers and actions based around them. They described the phasing of the programme, its impacts, challenges and success factors.

The Better at Home programme is designed to address specific challenges within Sefton, including reducing hospital admissions, enabling timely discharges, and promoting independence for aging residents. The vision focuses on delivering care that is personalised, proactive, and closer to home, ensuring better outcomes for residents. This programme exemplifies how targeted, community-centred initiatives can transform care delivery and improve outcomes for diverse populations.

Manchester Perspective: Achieving Better Outcomes Together

Sarah Broad, Deputy Director of Adult Social Care at Manchester Council, provided an in-depth look at the transformative journey behind the Achieving Better Outcomes Together initiative. This effort forms the foundation of the Better Outcomes, Better Lives reform programme for Adult Services in Manchester.

The initiative started with the Getting Basics Right Improvement Plan, which attracted critical investments and brought longstanding issues to the forefront.

The Better Outcomes, Better Lives programme was designed to:

• Build a service that supports people earlier and more effectively.
• Deliver a strengths-based approach to care, prioritising independence for residents.
• Ensure timely and appropriate support to meet diverse needs.

Sarah highlighted the programme’s achievements to date, including a reduction in demand and improved outcomes for residents. Financially, the initiative has helped Manchester better manage its social care budget with approximately £39.33 million in costs avoided through early intervention and innovative service delivery.

Better Outcomes, Better Lives has not only improved the quality of care and outcomes for Manchester residents. By focusing on early intervention, independence, and innovative approaches, the programme serves as a model for other councils striving to balance quality care with financial sustainability.

Watch the event in full