Accelerating Reform Fund programme

Last updated: 28 November 2023

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a £42.6 million Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF) to boost the quality and accessibility of adult social care by supporting innovation and scaling, and kickstarting a change in services to support unpaid carers.

The Accelerating Reform Fund will focus on embedding and scaling approaches to transform care and support including for unpaid carers, who play such a vital, selfless role in our society. This will accelerate progress towards the government’s social care vision where people have choice, control and support to live independent lives, and where care and support is of outstanding quality and is provided in a fair, accessible way.

Local authorities are invited to register their interest with the DHSC by 12 January 2024, in partnership with others in their integrated care systems, to fund local innovation projects. Local authorities will be guided by a list of priorities, and are expected to work collaboratively with others such as the NHS, care providers, voluntary and community sector groups, including unpaid carers.

DHSC has appointed SCIE to provide hands-on support to local areas in developing local partnerships and delivering projects, ensuring participants benefit from valuable shared learnings, peer support and expert insights across the country. With a wealth of trusted expertise in working collaboratively to help local areas transform care, SCIE will help identify issues and challenges, galvanising co-production and ensuring people who need care and unpaid carers are at the heart of the programme.

The ARF will support at least two projects per region, one of which will focus on unpaid carers, and consider co-production with both care recipients and unpaid carers, ensuring they are inclusive of local diverse needs.

The ARF is a learning programme, so SCIE has an essential role in gathering evidence on how to successfully tackle the barriers to scaling up innovation in social care, alongside a national evaluation partner.

The national evaluation partner will be evaluating whether the programme has been successful at tackling the barriers to innovation, the success of SCIE’s support offer, and the ways local areas can continue to scale and adopt new innovations after the grant has been delivered. Projects will be evaluated to inform future decisions on embedding models of care in the community and overcome barriers by providing evidence on efficacy for future practice.

SCIE will be running a series of information sessions about the fund, what’s expected from programme participants and how to apply for funding.

Expression of Interest

Local authorities are invited to register their interest with the DHSC by 12 January 2024, in partnership with others in their integrated care systems.

• Expression of Interest form

Webinars

SCIE will run two webinars about the ARF programme on 14 and 27 November.

Useful links

• Gov.UK press release: Innovation projects in adult social care receive £42.6 million boost
• Gov.UK: Guidance for local authorities
• List of innovative priorities is now available in an Easy Read format

Frequently Asked Questions

General

• What is the Accelerating Reform Fund? Open

  The Accelerating Reform Fund Department is a £42.6 million fund launched by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to boost the quality and accessibility of adult social care by supporting innovation and scaling, and kickstarting a change in services to support unpaid carers. The fund is open to local authorities with adult social care duties.

  The DHSC has provided grant funding to Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) to provide hands-on support to local areas in developing local partnerships and delivering projects, ensuring participants benefit from valuable shared learnings, peer support and expert insights across the country.

• How do I find out more? Open

  SCIE is holding webinars, open to local authorities/representatives and their local partners.

  • The first SCIE webinar took place on Tuesday 14 November, please find the recording and slides here.
  • The second SCIE webinar takes place on Monday 27 November, 11.30-12.45pm, on Zoom. Please book your place.

• Should I come to the next webinar (Monday 27 November, 11.30-12.45pm)? Open

  The next webinar will, like the one held on 14 November, cover the overview of the Accelerating Reform Fund and how to apply. However, it will have more time allotted for Q&A, including all those posted during the first webinar. There will be different case studies featured in the next one too. This webinar, like the first, will be recorded and shared with slides via our website.

  SCIE will also be holding further regional webinars in December to help connect local partners, identify issues and share learnings.

• How do local authorities apply for the Accelerating Reform Fund? Open

  A lead local authority needs to submit an Expression of Interest with the DHSC by 12 January 2024, in partnership with other local authorities in their integrated care systems, to fund local innovation projects. At least two projects will need to be supported in each area, one of those having a particular focus on unpaid carers.

  Local authorities will be guided by a list of priorities, and are expected to work collaboratively with others such as the NHS, care providers, voluntary and community sector groups, including unpaid carers.

  If it makes sense from a service provision/population perspective, ICS consortia can join up to submit applications.

• Is the fund for England only? Open

  Yes, it has been launched by the DHSC for local authorities to access in England, to make progress towards the Government’s 10 Year Vision.

• Is the fund just for adult social care? Open

  The £42.6 million fund has been launched by DHSC to boost the quality and accessibility of adult social care by supporting innovation and scaling, and kickstarting a change in services to support unpaid carers. As part of the communications about the fund, health colleagues in NHS England will be informing health leaders of the Accelerating Reform Fund and its purpose.

  The fund will focus on embedding and scaling approaches to transform care and support including for unpaid carers, who play such a vital, selfless role in our society. This will accelerate progress towards the government’s social care vision where people have choice, control and support to live independent lives, and where care and support is of outstanding quality and is provided in a fair, accessible way.

• What are DHSC/SCIE doing to ensure that health and other partners know about the funding so that they can work with their ICS areas to develop projects? Open

  The DHSC is working with NHS England to inform health leaders of the Accelerating Reform Fund and its purpose including via a recent ICS learning network summit, delivery partners group and fortnightly ICS bulletin.

  DHSC is working with local government and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) partners, including members of the Health and Wellbeing Alliance, to disseminate information through their channels to ensure partners know how they can participate.

• Some of the list’s priorities have a specific focus on unpaid carers, why is this? Open

  For the vast majority of people care begins at home. Many people wish to play a role in caring for their friends and family, and we recognise that, for some, this can be a significant commitment. ‘People at the Heart of Care’ and ‘Next steps to Put People at the Heart of Care’ highlighted the importance of kickstarting a change in the services provided to support unpaid carers, by building and sharing the evidence. At least one project per area will need to be focused on unpaid carers.

• Why has DHSC chosen the case studies alongside the innovations? Open

  DHSC knows there are some fantastic examples of innovation happening across the sector. While the priorities are intended to be broad to enable local authorities to adapt them to their local priorities, the case studies are intended to illustrate an example of how this priority could be delivered. They are intended to help local authorities bring to life each innovative priority. DHSC and SCIE are keen to hear about more examples under each of these innovations and would welcome local authorities getting in touch to share existing work. Please email innovation@scie.org.uk

• What about other innovations in adult social care? Can we use the funding for those instead? Open

  The purpose of the Accelerating Reform Fund is to embed and scale innovations. The funding is to support local authorities to develop projects that fit within at least one of the identified priorities for innovation and scaling, meets their local population needs and is based on relevant statutory duties and legal requirements.

  Local authorities can take forward any project they choose to meet their local populations needs, if it falls under one of the 12 priorities for innovation and scaling. Projects that do not contribute to any of the 12 priorities cannot be funded through the Accelerating Reform Fund.

• How do the DHSC work with SCIE on the fund? Open

  The DHSC has launched the Accelerating Reform Fund and will oversee the fund, including receiving the Expressions of Interest. The DHSC has provided grant funding to SCIE to provide hands-on support to local areas in developing local partnerships and delivering projects, ensuring participants benefit from valuable shared learnings, peer support and expert insights across the country.

  With a wealth of trusted expertise in working collaboratively to help local areas transform care, SCIE will help identify issues and challenges, galvanising co-production and ensuring people who need care and unpaid carers are at the heart of the programme.

  This is a learning programme, so SCIE has an essential leadership role in gathering evidence on how to successfully tackle the barriers to scaling up innovation in social care, alongside a national evaluation partner.

  The Accelerating Reform Fund is split into two phases: responsibilities for the different phases are.

  Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC)

  Phase 1 (Oct 23 – Mar 24)

  • Fund announcement
  • EOI form made available
  • Confirms funding
  • Signs MOUs

  Phase 2 (Apr 24 – Mar 25)

  • Funds SCIE support
  • Collects mid and end grant reports, which will include grant expenditure
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of the fund

  Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)

  Phase 1 (Oct 23 – Mar 24)

  • Supports with queries on EOI process
  • Supports connecting LAs and partners

  Phase 2 (Apr 24 – Mar 25)

  • Supports project delivery
  • Supports project monitoring and QA
  • Supports connecting similar projects

  Evaluation by Evaluation partner commissioned by DHSC

SCIE support

• What support will SCIE provide? Open

  SCIE will be leading the support programme for local authorities and their partners, This will include:

  1. Support to local areas to participate in the Accelerating Reform Fund by helping them to form consortia of interested partners in their Integrated Care System (ICS) geography; identify priority issues and select the innovations they wish to scale; and to develop expressions of interest.
  2. Support to consortia to set up and deliver their chosen projects through a series of group sessions and webinars that will help identify challenges; share learning; and facilitate peer support.
  3. Facilitate expert input and hands-on support for projects that need it, delivered by organisations that have developed or successfully delivered the innovation in other areas, and partners delivering the broader DHSC funded improvement offer.
  4. Share learning across the programme and with the wider sector.
  5. Ensure the collection of evidence to support the Fund’s evaluation.

• How do we access SCIE support, as we plan our submissions? Open

  All local areas are strongly encouraged by the DHSC to contact SCIE to understand how you can work with us and other partners in your local area to develop projects. Please email us at innovation@scie.org.uk

• How can SCIE help us with: Open

  1. Developing Expressions of Interests
     • With a wealth of trusted expertise in understanding the challenges faced in scaling innovation, and working collaboratively to help local areas transform care, we can help identify issues and challenges, advise on co-production, and provide general information and guidance including via webinars (there are two taking place in November).
     • We can connect you to other local authorities in your area through regional sessions due to be held in December, and to the case studies and case study providers included in the priority list. We have a list of providers which we will update ongoing, as we become aware of any additional providers supporting local authorities or with capabilities to support, in priority areas.
  2. Identifying priorities
     • The purpose of the Accelerating Reform Fund is to embed and scale innovations, so Local authorities within an Integrated Care System (ICS) are expected to work together to agree the most appropriate projects that can be taken forward based on local need. SCIE’s expertise in understanding the challenges in scaling innovation means we can advise.
     • As part of the support offer, SCIE will be available to support local areas to form partnerships and develop projects and facilitate peer support. This will include connecting you with other local authorities through a series of regional sessions that will be held in December.
     • Working in partnership with health partners, care providers, and voluntary and community groups will be essential to designing effective projects.
  3. Linking local authorities to each other and providers
     • As part of our support offer, SCIE will be available to support local areas to form partnerships and develop projects and facilitate peer support.
     • If it makes sense from a service provision/population perspective, ICS consortia can join up to submit applications.
     • We can connect local authorities with the providers included in the case study examples in the DHSC list of priorities; and similarly are happy to put providers in touch with local authorities. A series of regional webinars will be held in December.

Local responsibilities/working together

• Why do the Expressions of Interest have to come from local authorities? Open

  Local Authorities have been asked to submit Expressions of Interest because they have a statutory responsibility for delivering care. They are being asked to come together in their Integrated Care System (ICS) geography, because ICSs are critical to collaboration between health and social care. The DHSC is allocating funding to local authorities through ICS geographies to encourage collaboration between local authorities and local health boards and provide opportunities to share knowledge, expertise and resources to overcome barriers to innovation.

  Local authorities are invited to register their interest with the DHSC by 12 January 2024, in partnership with others in their integrated care systems, to fund local innovation projects. Local authorities will be guided by a list of priorities, and are expected to work collaboratively with others such as the NHS, care providers, voluntary and community sector groups, including unpaid carers.

• How are you expecting local areas to work together? Open

  Local authorities within an Integrated Care System (ICS) are expected to work together to agree projects that can be taken forward based on local need.

  Working in partnership with health partners, care providers, and voluntary and community groups will be essential to designing effective projects.

  As part of the support offer, SCIE will be available to support local areas to form partnerships and develop projects, and facilitate peer support.

• Do Integrated Care Boards have a role in the Accelerating Reform Fund? Open

  Integrated Care Boards do not have a specific role in the Accelerating Reform Fund. Consortia will be formed within Integrated Care System geographies, and the designated lead local authority will submit an Expression of Interest for the Accelerating Reform Fund, working in partnership. Funding will be allocated directly to the lead local authority.

  This is completely separate to and differs from the Better Care Fund, which requires Integrated Care Boards and local government to agree a joint plan, owned by the Health and Wellbeing Boards.

Evaluation

• Who is the evaluation partner and will it need to be paid from the area’s fund? Open

  The evaluation partner will be appointed by the DHSC soon. They will be paid by central funding.

  The evaluation partner will not be SCIE, as the evaluator will need to independently evaluate the implementation of the SCIE support offer.

• What are you intending on evaluating within the Accelerating Reform Fund? Open

  An independent evaluation partner will be appointed by the DHSC. They will be paid by central funding.

  The evaluation of the Accelerating Reform Fund led by the national evaluation partner will assess where and how the programme supports local areas to overcome barriers to scaling innovation; the implementation of the SCIE support offer; and the ways local areas can scale up innovations after the grant has been delivered. Learning from the programme will contribute to future innovation in the sector.

  Local areas are encouraged to conduct their own assessment of impact for their project, funded by their allocation from the fund, of which the national evaluation partner will collate and consider the findings.

• Does SCIE support include evaluation of projects for local authorities, ICS and other local stakeholders? Open

  ICS consortia are encouraged to conduct their own assessment of impact for their project, funded by their allocation from the fund, separate to, but feeding into the national evaluation. The national evaluation partner will collate and consider the findings.

  SCIE would not be able to carry this out, given our involvement in supporting the fund more widely. You can choose whichever evaluation partner you would like.

Funding

• How has the funding been calculated per ICS geography? Open

  All areas are being provided with a base investment to cover initial start-up costs and then additional funding that is more representative for their local population. Therefore, each consortium will receive an initial £300,000 floor to help with set-up costs for projects. This floor represents £12.6 million of the £42.6 million pot.

  The remaining £30 million is intended to cover some ongoing programme costs and how it is distributed will be calculated based on the Adult Social Care Relative Needs Formula (RNF) at a local authority level and summed to the ICS consortia level. This will be calculated based on the total number of local authorities opting into the consortium – so, for example, an Expression of Interest with a larger number of local authorities, larger number of people and greater demand and/or needs would result in higher levels of funding.

  For local authorities that span multiple ICS geographies, their RNF funding allocation will be added to the consortium they choose to join. Local authorities can only join one consortia. However, If it makes sense from a service provision/population perspective, ICS consortia can join up to submit applications.

  If local authorities choose not to opt into the Accelerating Reform Fund, the DHSC intends for most or all of their RNF funding allocation to be redistributed amongst all ICS consortia across the country, based on the ASC RNF.

  Following the deadline of 12 January 2024, DHSC will confirm final allocations for each consortium.

• How many projects can we submit? Do we get more funding for more projects? Open

  The Accelerating Reform Fund will support at least two projects per region, one of which will focus on unpaid carers – and needs to consider co-production with both those cared for and unpaid carers, ensuring they are inclusive of local diverse needs.

  The Expression of Interest has space to submit three projects, but there is no limit. Regardless of project numbers, each consortium will receive an initial £300,000 floor to help with set up costs for projects. The remaining £30 million is intended to cover some ongoing programme costs and how it is distributed will be calculated based on the Adult Social Care Relative Needs Formula (RNF) at a local authority level and summed to the ICS consortia level. This will be calculated based on the total number of local authorities opting into the consortium.

• How long is the funding available for? Open

  The funding is available in financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25.

  The aim of the grant is to incentivise the scaling-up of projects to new areas that can be further supported through existing local authority funding.

• When will the funding be sent to local authorities? Open

  The funding will be provided to the designated lead local authority in each consortium. Once the lead local authority has received the funding allocation, they will distribute across the consortium as required.

  The funding will be provided in two tranches, the first will be provided to local authorities in March 2024.

  The second tranche will be provided in 2024/25, conditional on completion of mid-grant reporting.

• How will you make sure projects are sustainable beyond the lifetime of the Accelerating Reform Fund? Open

  It is important that projects are sustainable beyond the lifetime of the Accelerating Reform Fund, and we are asking local areas as part of the Expression of Interest to consider how they can ensure projects have a lasting impact.

  As part of the support programme, SCIE will help projects consider sustainability. They will collect and share learnings from projects across the country to enable projects to be successfully embedded and scaled. The national evaluation partner will also assess how local areas can be best supported to continue to deliver and scale-up innovations post-delivery of the grant.

Contact us

If you have questions about SCIE's support as part of the Accelerating Reform Fund programme, please email us.