1. LOCAL AREA COORDINATION
VULNERABLE
WELLBEING
FRAIL
SUPPORT
CONTRIBUTION
FAMILY
STRENGTH
NAVIGATION
LEARN
LOCAL AREA COORDINATION
RELATIONSHIPS
ASSETS
TEACH
SHARED
GIFTS & SKILLS
COMMUNITY
NEIGHBOURS
PERSON CENTRED
NETWORKS
INFORMATION
FRIENDS
PEOPLE
LONELY
DISABILITY
HOPE
ISOLATED
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

2. Local Area Coordination in England and Wales
City of York
Derbyshire
Leicestershire
Derby City
Suffolk
Solihull
Thurrock
These are the areas currently developing or operating Local Area Coordination across England and Wales.
In all areas, Local Area Coordination is embedded in the system, but delivered in the community alongside local people.
This provides both opportunities for driving conversations and action around reform, systems change and cultural change within the system, whilst being embedded in the community alongside local people, families and neighbourhoods.
WaItham Forest
Haringey
Swansea
Neath Port Talbot
Isle of Wight

3. Local Area Coordinators
Defined geographical area
Conversation & joint work focused on a good life
Build on the assets and contribution of people and the community
Whole person, whole family
Voluntary relationship – introductions not referrals
Not time limited but avoids dependency
Connected to cross system and community leadership
Currently, services can be very complicated, resulting in multiple interventions
Local Area Coordination combines a range of traditionally separate roles and is delivered in the community alongside local people.
A single point of contact support people of all ages, across service types – a local, integrated approach, focusing on supporting people to stay strong avoid services or reduce their dependency on services.
Strong emphasis on partnerships with statutory services, community services and local people – building on the local resources and expertise
Rather than asking what needs do you have or what services do you want, Local Area Coordination starts at a different place.
It asks person by person, what is your vision for a good life and what are the range of ways we can get there.
It focuses on gifts, skills, interests and local solutions first, but values services as a back up.
It specifically aims to help people stay strong strong instead of waiting for crises
In the community, Local Area Coordinators are skilled individuals that support individuals across age groups and service labels as a single point of contact in the local community.
Rather than being parachuted in for a time limited intervention to fix people – they take time to get to know people and support local solutions and build resilience. Help people to stay strong in the future.
It combines a range of traditionally separate roles and delivers alongside local people, families within the community including
Identify gifts, strengths and needs
Information advice
Relationship building – circles of support
Self advocacy
Community building
Planning for the future
Community connecting
Find practical non service solutions
Access services, navigate and control services – care navigation, brokerage

4. Who do they support? Local Area Coordinators support:
People not yet known to services to help build resilience and remain part of their community (staying strong – avoiding need for services)
People at risk of becoming dependent on services to remain strong in their own community diverting the need for more expensive “formal service” responses. (reduce demand)
People already dependent on services to become less so and more resilient in their own community.
This slide reinforces the varied nature of the role.
As part of simplifying the system and maintaining trusting relationships, Local Area Coordinators work alongside people before crisis (building resilience), in crisis at risk of becoming dependent on services ((diverting people from services to sustainable, natural solutions within communities) and people already dependent on services (reducing dependency and cost wherever possible).
This is done in strong partnership with the person, their family and service and community partners
It’s not just a preventive approach, but works alongside people across not only service labels and age groups, but also to build resilience, support at crisis (to build non service solutions wherever possible

5. Suffolk Local Area Coordinators are in
Sudbury and Great Cornard – Imogen Sherwood
Rural villages around Sudbury inc. Glemsford, Acton, Long Melford, Monks Eleigh Great and Little Waldingfield – Cally Boardman
Ipswich – Chantry – Troy Shelton
Ipswich Gainsborough, Priory Heath and Ravenswood – Steve Gray
Saxmundham and Leiston (inc villages in between) – Holly Granville
Beccles and Worlingham – Joseph Young
This slide reinforces the varied nature of the role.
As part of simplifying the system and maintaining trusting relationships, Local Area Coordinators work alongside people before crisis (building resilience), in crisis at risk of becoming dependent on services ((diverting people from services to sustainable, natural solutions within communities) and people already dependent on services (reducing dependency and cost wherever possible).
This is done in strong partnership with the person, their family and service and community partners
It’s not just a preventive approach, but works alongside people across not only service labels and age groups, but also to build resilience, support at crisis (to build non service solutions wherever possible

6. Evidence and Outcomes
Swansea Uni (2017) – Financial benefits 3:1, relationship networks
SROI £4 Return for every £1 invested (2015 & 2016),
Reduction in:
Isolation
Visits to GP surgery and A&E
Dependence on formal health and social services
Referrals to Mental Health Team & Adult Social Care
Safeguarding concerns
Evictions and costs to housing
Smoking and alcohol consumption
Dependence on day services
Out of area placements
Long term studies show that where designed effectively (according to core principles, values and approach) and driven by strong, connected, contributing leadership (including people with a lived experience), there are a range of consistent, positive outcomes – these include (see slide)
ALSO
Derby saved/diverted £800+k 2 small locations in first 10 months.
SROI evaluations in Derby City and Thurrock showing £4 return on every £1 invested
Start of systems and cultural change – single point of contact, building resilience to avoid service need or reducing dependency of people receiving services
Joint funding
Reform/re balancing of existing funding – from crisis and services/funding to prevention and capacity building
Areas “disinvesting” or “cashing in” existing services/resources and bringing across to Local Area Coordination and prevention
e.g. in Derby City, they cashed in 2 SW positions to fund expansion of Local Area Coordination
Impact on Social Work – Thurrock Council showed people leaving Safeguarding earlier through integrated working with social work. Social Workers more able to focus on core social work specialist role alongside individuals, families with significant need, safeguarding etc
Starting to impact/contribute to cultural change – focus on individual, whole family and community
- looking at non service alternatives to need/aspirations
- communities getting involved in recruitment of other professionals
- people with lived experience leading training/induction of staff
Other staff/organisations part of Local Area Coordination and strength based training
Evidence of wider partnership working (alongside services and vol/3rd sector) leading to better outcomes
Increased choice and control over supports and services
Better resourced communities
More inclusive and supportive communities
Out of area placements – long term studies show people not having to move from local area and/or people able to return from high cost out of area placements

7. Outcomes for Individuals and Families
Positive outcomes for individuals and families.
When asked about the impact of support from Local Area Coordination, people reflected significant and consistent improvements in quality of life
- Better access to information
- feeling more in control, able to make choices/decisions
- Developed supportive, informal relationships and networks (reduced isolation)
- improved knowledge of resources and sources of support in the local community
- Feeling more connected to and part of local community life
- Improved health and well-being
- Feeling safer and more confident in the future
- The beginning of people feeling able to contribute to community – sharing their interests, passions

8. Keys to Success – what we are learning
Importance of……..
“continuity, connections, mutual support, invest in learning, training – a community of practice”
Strong design and strong connected leadership.
The “slow fix” delivers quicker more sustainable outcomes.
Staying true to Local Area Coordination throughout – resist the pull!! No diluting, cherry picking bits.
Expect and welcome the challenges to ways of working/thinking.
Inclusion, contribution, leadership, accountability
Recruiting the right people, pay the right money.

9. The Local Area Coordination Network
Connected learning & support
Elected Members Network, Leaders, Managers, Local Area Coordinators
Resources, peer support, access to evaluation & evidence
Influence, partnerships and strategic partnerships

10. Local Area Coordination – think big, start small, get it right - GROW.
Samantha Clark or Ralph Broad
Local Area Coordination Network CIC or
Web
Twitter @LACNetworkUK Facebookhttps://