The study, a part of the NIHR National Priority Programme for Adult Social Care & Social Work, has won a prestigious European Social Services Award.
Photo: Chloe Waterman, King’s College London (left) and Amanda Nally, NDTi (right) collecting the award in Lisbon
The annual awards, which this year took place in Lisbon, recognise outstanding achievements in social services across Europe, promoting best practices in social care, and facilitating collaboration amongst peers. The evaluation of the Community-Led-Support (CLS) project won the Research and Evaluation category.
CLS was developed by the National Development Team for inclusion (NDTi) as a way for the whole social care and health system to work together. It involves social care practitioners working with communities to achieve what matters to them by building on existing relationships, skills, networks and strengths.
The evaluation identified aspects of the programme that were working well and areas that needed improvement. Overall, it showed that the local authority areas which engaged in the CLS programme showed positive changes in their social care assessment and care management activities compared with non-CLS areas.
Photo: Back row Mike Richardson, NDTi, Chloe Waterman, Kings College London, Jenny Pitts, NDTi, Rhys, expert by experience and Amanda Nally, NDTi. Front row: Katie, expert by experience and Professor Robin Miller, University of Birmingham.
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 approach that demonstrates what’s possible when you work differently and put people at the heart of services
Award winners were selected in a two-step scoring process combining a judging panel (85%) and online public vote (15%). The panel was comprised of 18 judges selected for their strong experience in social service management, planning, funding, provision and research.
We were so thrilled to have won a European Social Services Award. Being among so many great nominees from across 19 countries was a privilege. It was a fantastic night of celebrating and witnessing how different countries work within their own cultural and political landscapes to improve social services. We couldn't be happier to have won the award and met some fantastic peers across the social work and social care sector.
This year’s awards provided special recognition to people and organisations that had promoted inclusive communities, securing meaningful involvement in spaces, activities and events regardless of age, ability, income or background.
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.