Local Area Coordination in England and Wales

August 2019

Updates on Local Area Coordination, the work of the Network and the areas implementing Local Area Coordination.
In this month's edition we'll be covering:

New look website
How to get started with Local Area Coordination
Innovations directory
Job vacancies
and more...

Resources on Local Area Coordination and/or Asset Based work

Place-based approaches for reducing health inequalities
This government publication considers the context and causes of health inequalities and suggests a framework for action to reduce these. The framework described in the report is based around place-based planning and approaches. Read the full report

The Enabling State: Where are we now?
An Enabling State is one that seeks to address stubborn inequalities of outcomes and gives people and communities more control over the public services they receive to improve their own wellbeing. This report summarises evidence from across the UK, along with over 180 sources. It also provides a review of policy-making and details what each policy shift has entailed. Read the summary and full report

The Village Survival Guide
The Prince's Countryside Fund have put together this village guide with a difference. The guide has been produced to get rural communities up and running and is filled with tips and advice on how to build a strong asset-based community. It has case histories, checklists and practical advice to enable those living in the countryside to utilize the talents available in their own communities. Read the full guide

Public health apprenticeships: Supporting community-centred roles across health and care
This report features outcomes from a Public Health England workshop held on 29 March 2019 which explored employer demand for a Level 3 apprenticeship standard for health and wellbeing workers who work with the public. The workshop also considered whether there was a common identity and shared capabilities among current community-centred roles, including Local Area Coordination. The report includes a timetable of further action. Read the full report

How to start Local Area Coordination

If you want to bring Local Area Coordination to your area but don't know where to start or how it would work then take a look at this handy new flowchart we've put together. The flowchart looks at how the Network will work with an area to explore Local Area Coordination and get it up and running. See the full flowchart

New look Network website

We've recently updated the Local Area Coordination Network website to bring it inline with our 'It's Time for Local Area Coordination' report. We've also altered the layout to make it easier to navigate. We hope you like the new site as much as us! Take a look at the new website...

Job vacancies

Local Area Coordinator in Thurrock
Employer: Thurrock Council

£28,363 - £33,920 a year (pro rata)
12 month fixed term contract - 18.5 hours per week
Thurrock Council are transforming the way they connect people and places - helping people to create their own practical solutions within communities that are inclusive and supportive. They believe in the strength and contribution of all local people to build and pursue a positive vision for Thurrock. The Local Area Coordinator will work alongside people, their families and their communities using this approach.
Find out more and apply
Closing date: Sunday 25th August 2019

Local Area Coordinator in Derby
Employer: Derby City Council

£32,878 - £36,876 a year
12 month fixed term contract
The Local Area Coordination team at Derby City Council are expanding and are looking to recruit a new Local Area Coordinator in Spondon. The team are looking for an exceptional individual who can combine their commitment to working alongside people in very practical ways with a passion for place based working - always looking for local solutions that will enhance the persons participation in, and contribution to, their local community.
Find out more and apply
Closing date: Sunday 1st September 2019

Community Enterprise Catalyst in North Yorkshire

Employer: Community Catalysts CIC
£32,000 a year - 37.5 hours per week
2 year fixed term contract
As a Community Enterprise Catalyst you will lead the new North Yorkshire Community Enterprise Project which will support local entrepreneurial people and community organisations to offer new and creative care and support options for people who need help at home. In this way we will help people to get the support they need to live the life they want.
Find out more and apply
Closing date: Friday 13th September 2019 at 12pm

Innovations directory

TLAP have put together a 'directory of innovations' which showcases approaches that are reimagining social care and helping to make them mainstream.

The directory includes examples of support that improve people’s health and wellbeing e.g. Local Area Coordination and community solutions by Community Catalysts. The approaches are wide ranging and come in all shapes and sizes but share the following features:

they are person-centred
they work with people’s strengths
they are about supporting people to have a life and not a service

The directory is available for anyone to use but the aim is that commissioners and providers will be inspired by the innovations listed and as a result will invest in personalised support that is both community and asset-based. Take a look at the directory

Reminder for 'community is the best medicine'

The Kings Fund are running two events later in the year to explore the role of communities in health and care. The Local Area Coordination Network has a slot at one of the events and Community Catalysts has one at the other.

London event
When? 8th October 2019 all day
Where? The King's Fund, London, W1G 0AN
How to book on? Buy your ticket here
Our slot: Community Catalysts: Nurturing community micro-enterprise - Hear about a model where a local Catalyst supports small, self-organising micro-enterprises, allowing appropriately paid, highly satisfying self-employment for local people and improved care for older and disabled people and their families.

Other slots to watch out for:

Peer-led frontline service delivery – engaging, understanding, and working in partnership to improve the health of a community (Gary Pargeter)
Growing Innovation: Getting Under the Skin of It (Alex Fox, Caroline Speirs and Kate Sibthorp)
Bringing together evidence to make decisions (Ingrid Abreu Scherer)

Find out more and see the full London programme

Leeds event
When? 6th November 2019 all day
Where? Horizon Leeds, 2 Brewery Wharf Kendell Street, LS10 1JR
How to book on? Buy your ticket here
Our slot: Local Area Coordination: A model that mobilises communities as assets to address the determinants of poor health - Discover how the model of Local Area Coordination is being used in York, an approach that supports individuals and communities to tackle the underlying determinants of poor health delivered by several local authorities across England and Wales.

Other slots to watch out for:

York: the evolving asset-based area (Joe Micheli and Alison Semmence)
Bicester Healthy New Town Programme: a whole system approach to healthy place making (Dr Rosie Rowe)
Integrated wellbeing and neighbourhood approach (Richard Brown and Heather Taylor)

Find out more and see the full Leeds programme

Useful blogs including Network members or allies

It's all about relationships by Nick Sinclair
https://lacnetwork.org/its-all-about-relationships-a-blog-by-nick-sinclair/

Small and personal - promoting innovative models of support by Alex Fox
https://www.thinklocalactpersonal.org.uk/Blog/Small-and-personal-promoting-innovative-models-of-support/

What *really* makes good care by Sian Lockwood
https://www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/what-really-makes-good-care/

Why language matters by Bryony Shannon
https://rewritingsocialcare.blog/2019/08/09/why-language-matters/

Towards a vision of welcoming, connected and self-supporting communities by Nick Sinclair
https://lacnetwork.org/its-all-about-relationships-a-blog-by-nick-sinclair/

How to get in touch

Email or phone Cat for general enquiries or to supply content for future editions of the Update:
cat@lacnetwork.org
07535381638

Email or phone Nick about work with members and about new work to embed Local Area Coordination in your area:
nick@lacnetwork.org
07407789130

Website: http://lacnetwork.org/
Facebook: @LACNetwork
Twitter: @LACNetworkUK

Please share this update with colleagues
Sign up to receive this directly at http://eepurl.com/dlqbIT

The Local Area Coordination Network is hosted by Community Catalysts CIC who make sure that people, wherever they live, have real choice of great local social care, health services and other community resources.