Transforming care and support
Consultancy support on transforming local care and support systems
SCIE is the leading improvement agency working in health, social care and support.
We work as an improvement partner, providing independent challenge, support and evidence to help organisations and local systems improve.
We support local areas to implement strengths-based approaches to providing health, care and support.
We help organisations learn from and implement innovative approaches to commissioning and delivering care.
We provide leadership development and action learning to support leaders and help embed new ways of working.
Our services – which can be tailored to local needs, budgets and timescales – include:
Surrey CC has been pleased to engage SCIE as our improvement partner aimed at adding capacity, challenge, support, knowledge and expertise to our adults social care improvement journey. It’s early days, but the partnership is shaping well and we all benefit from the open and engaging style SCIE is bringing, helping us build on areas of strength as well as known challenges.
Simon White, Interim Executive Director for Adult Social Care, Surrey County Council
- Developing improvement plans: We work with local areas to develop the vision and strategy for good quality care and support. This can include a systematic desk review; review of performance; data workshops; and interviews.
- Implementing plans: SCIE can work with local areas to develop and challenge implementation plans. We have expertise in supporting system leadership, redesign of assessments, asset-based approaches, safeguarding and co-production. We can support with programme management, systems re-design; workforce development and CPD-accredited training, quality assurance, and coaching and mentoring.
- Reviewing and embedding improvement plans: We review the programme processes, outcomes and metrics to help ensure that the improvement plan is sustained in the longer term. We can develop and host an event with key stakeholders to embed and engender ownership of the strategy.
Client case study
Birmingham City Council
Evaluation of Care Act implementation
Birmingham City Council commissioned SCIE to review its Care Act-compliance around assessment and eligibility determination, custodial settings, independent advocacy, personal budgets and transition from children’s to adults’ services.
We very much welcome the honesty, clarity and accuracy of this evaluation. I would encourage other authorities to consider this type of approach to getting an informed external view of their service areas and believe SCIE provide this in an objective and professional way.
Alan Lotinga, Service Director, Health and Wellbeing, Birmingham City Council
Department for Education
Coaching to Innovation Programme projects
The Department for Education has commissioned SCIE, Mutual Ventures and Innovation Unit to provide experienced, expert, flexible support and challenge to 45 Innovation Programme-funded projects that support vulnerable children and young people.
Lancashire and South Cumbria integrated care system
Developing ambitions for integrated care
SCIE, working with our senior associate Richard Jones, has been commissioned by to work with Local Authorities in Lancashire & South Cumbria and the ICS Executive to generate a shared set of ambitions for health and social care integration in L&SC over the next two-to-five years; to identify priorities for action; and to scope a delivery plan.
London Borough of Bexley
Long-term strategic partner
Bexley has commissioned SCIE to become a long-term partner to review, challenge, give guidance and endorsement to help the senior management team deliver and implement its transformational Adult Social Care Pathways programme.
London Borough of Brent
Developing and embedding a strengths based approach
The London Borough of Brent has commissioned SCE to help to co-produce a new strengths-based practice framework to govern how staff in adult social care work with people who receive care and support. The programme will involve: Workshops with staff to develop and finalise the framework; and bespoke training with staff across the service in strengths based practice.
Norfolk County Council
Review of Care Act implementation
Norfolk County Council commissioned SCIE to review its progress in meeting the principles and duties set out in the Care Act. The Council will be working with stakeholders to produce an action plan in response to the review.
SCIE’s review provides the Council, local residents and other stakeholders with a very valuable analysis of where we are and what we need to do to maintain progress in delivering the requirements of the Care Act. SCIE’s in-depth knowledge of the Act, combined with their inclusive and pragmatic approach to the review has resulted in a clear set of recommendations for us to work with.
Catherine Underwood, Acting Executive Director of Adult Social Services, Norfolk County Council
Sefton Council
Personalisation Support Programme
Sefton Council’s long-term plan for adults is to create independent and thriving communities who have choice and control in accessing services.
SCIE has been commissioned to provide a large-scale transformation programme to support the workforce to be able to deliver on this plan. This will include the development of champions, who will strengthen the embedding of new approaches to working, training in the Care Act, person-centred care and strengths-based approaches and consultancy advice on the implementation of asset-based ways of working.
Staffordshire County Council
Market management of residential and nursing care homes
Staffordshire and CCGs commissioned SCIE to develop an evidence-based joint strategy for the market management of residential and nursing care homes in the county.
The strategy and an associated action plan were developed through analysis of local, regional and national data to understand the current circumstances and future needs of the care home market in Staffordshire. There was engagement with nearly 60 local stakeholders. The completed strategy has identified a number of objectives for further developing joint market management of care homes.
States of Jersey
Children’s social care learning partner
SCIE has been asked by the States of Jersey to become a long-term learning partner on children’s social care. This role will include: developing a learning programme; supporting the implementation of a practice framework; quality assuring and auditing to improving safeguarding practice; and coaching and mentoring.
Surrey County Council
Review of Adult Social Care Transformation Programme
Surrey County Council has asked SCIE to become a long-term improvement partner to provide challenge and support. This will help the Council to develop and implement an adult care and support improvement plan.
Surrey County Council has been pleased to engage SCIE as our improvement partner aiming at adding capacity, challenge, support, knowledge and expertise to our adults social care improvement journey. It’s early days, but the partnership is shaping well and we all benefit from the open and engaging style SCIE is bringing, helping us build on areas of strength as well as known challenges.
Simon White, Interim Executive Director, Adult Social Care, Surrey County Council.
Surrey County Council
Strength-based approaches: Action learning set
SCIE has been working with Surrey County Council to test out and reflect on new techniques and ways of working with strengths-based approaches for adult social care. Over a series of workshops, managers and leaders developed their confidence and capabilities in modelling good strengths-based practice in their local area.
We are serious about strengths based approaches, so we recognise that our managers need to be supported in building their skills, knowledge and confidence in working in this way. SCIE’s action learning sets, which they have delivered with team managers across the County, have played an important role in building our staff’s capacity and capability, and in giving them the practical skills and confidence they need to lead positive and engaging strengths based practice.
Liz Uliasz, Deputy Director, Adult Social Care, Surrey County Council