Collaborating and innovating in social care to improve lives

Chief Executive’s report

Looking back over the last four years, we have successfully established new foundations for SCIE. The outcomes of this hard work, commitment and new strategy are reflected in the amazing projects and activities we have enjoyed undertaking with so many of you working in social care in the last 12 months, and I am proud to share these with you in this annual report.

These have been tough times for social care, with the ever-continuing rise in demand for care exposing the significant workforce and funding pressures. However, I see so many great examples of innovative and resourceful solutions despite the challenges, and I know we will together continue to find ways to better care in practice and improve lives. We’re delighted to have been successful in our joint bid with Partners in Care to deliver a new programme of sector-led improvement support for adult social care and public health services in councils, funded by the DHSC. We look forward to working with the new Government, helping the best possible National Care Service come to fruition, and will continue to use our expertise to the benefit of the whole social care sector. More to follow on this over the course of 2024.

Our not-for-profit offer of innovative consultancy, expert training, extensive resources, information and evidence-based insights, ranges across our four strategic objectives: driving innovation and improvement, embedding co-production, improving safeguarding and influencing better policy. It has been a busy year for each of these work programmes with great outcomes and impact.

Whether you are a director of social care, a policy maker, a person drawing on care and support, a commissioner, social worker (or anything in between), you play such an important part in driving better care to help change people’s lives, and we are here to support all of you.

Last year, we established a Strategic Investment Fund for the specific purpose of generating innovative, standalone activity proposed by SCIE employees, focused on driving high impact in line with our strategic and charitable objectives. One of the first projects that this Fund will support is a research initiative about equity in social care. I’m really excited by our early findings, and we are now scoping the potential for establishing a Commission on Care Equity, which will undertake deeper enquiries to produce proposals for achieving a truly fair and equitable care system. Much more to follow on this over the course of the next 12 months.

Many of you may have watched Kate Garraway’s powerful ITV documentary ‘Derek’s Story’, which I took part in. None of us will have been surprised to see the heavy toll on unpaid carers depicted so honestly by Kate, which underlines the importance of the Accelerating Reform Fund (which SCIE is supporting), where I’m pleased that more than half the projects are focused on addressing their needs. What’s also great about the Fund is it represents the first ever such fund to focus on scaling innovative practice in social care, so we’ll be doing all we can to ensure its potential to collaborate and innovate to improve the experience of social care for all, is realised.

Of course, none of this would be possible without all the wonderful people who work for SCIE and are our lifeblood, bringing their passion for improving care to work every day. I am proud to lead this hardworking team for my fourth year and huge thanks to every employee, the Board of Trustees, our Co-production Steering Group and wider network.

Kathryn Smith, Chief Executive, SCIE

Chair’s report

It has been a decade since the Care Act came into force, and at SCIE, we have been reflecting on its ambitions, impact, and what still needs to be accomplished to transform social care. While significant progress has been made, deep challenges remain unresolved— challenges that have become even more urgent in the wake of the recent General Election.

This moment offers a crucial opportunity to reshape the future of social care. I am immensely proud of SCIE’s continued work as a trusted partner in the sector, delivering better outcomes for children, adults, and families who rely on care and support services. Now, more than ever,

SCIE’s role as a critical infrastructure provider across the sector is clear. Our role in setting standards, shaping practice, and influencing policy, all underpinned by robust evidence and the principle of co-production, ensuring that those who draw on care and support remain at the heart of everything we do.

The need for sustained investment in social care is well understood—both to stabilise the system and to invest in the workforce. This investment is essential for the sector’s ability to meet the increasing demands and rising costs of care. While the sector continues to advocate for this, SCIE is focused on our core mission: driving transformation through collaboration and innovation. Our role as a sector infrastructure provider means we are uniquely positioned to help develop new care models that are equipped to handle the significant future pressures on social care. Our strength lies in bringing together diverse voices and expertise to improve care, and we will continue to be at the forefront of shaping the future of the sector.

Over the past year, we have led a range of impactful projects and initiatives that demonstrate the breadth and depth of our contribution to the sector. Among these, our work on the Accelerating Reform Fund stands out. Building on our strong track record in collaborative working, we are providing hands-on support to local areas, helping them develop projects funded by the £42.6 million initiative. From partnering with the London Borough of Bromley on their forward-thinking Digital Strategy to contributing to the Whorlton Hall safeguarding adults review, SCIE’s role in shaping practice across the sector has never been more vital.

In addition, our work with Think Local Act Personal (TLAP), the sector-wide partnership hosted by SCIE, ensures that the voice of lived experience continues to shape the reform and improvement of social care. Through our focus on personalisation and co-production, we are helping to embed practical, effective care solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives.

As SCIE continues to evolve, we remain committed to upholding the highest standards and working alongside stakeholders to shape evidence-based, co-produced solutions. I am confident that the work we do today will set the foundation for the sustainable, high-quality care system that we all want to see.

I would like to extend my deepest thanks to our Board of Trustees, Chief Executive Kathryn Smith, and the entire SCIE team for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to the continued success and sustainability of the charity.

With best wishes,

Rt Hon Paul Burstow, Chair, SCIE