'strengths-based approach' related prevention examples and research

Community Team Plus

Stoke on Trent City Council

Community Team Plus involves multidisciplinary health and care teams supporting people across six Stoke on Trent localities to 'help me to help myself to live well'. They are tasked with being accessible, creative, resourceful and helpful.

How community organisations contribute to healthy ageing

DAYSON Chris, et al
2022

Evaluation report of the Leeds Neighbourhood Network (LNN), a community of 37 groups that provide a wide range of opportunities supporting healthy ageing. The report draws on six in-depth case studies, exploring reasons for their success and implications for health and social care policy. Each case study involved a desk-based review of existing evidence and data, and qualitative research with 57 LNN staff, volunteers, members and partners. The evaluation finds that the networks support prevention of ill health through community-based activities and support; help people to manage long-term conditions in order to delay illness severity and maintain a good quality of life; assist people with significant support needs to reduce pressure on healthcare providers. The evaluation also considers the evidence related to the five 'mechanisms of change' that underpin the LNNs' contribution to healthy ageing: resources; range of activities; relationships, responsiveness to their members' needs; and reassurance. The findings of this report suggest four key implications for health and social care policy and the role of community-based organisations supporting priorities associated with people in later life and health ageing. These include: the importance of prevention; the value of long-term investment in the core work of community based organisations; mechanisms community-based organisations need to thrive and the need to level-up support for people in later life at a neighbourhood level.

Leeds Neighbourhood Networks report

CENTRE FOR AGEING BETTER
2022

This report shares the latest insights from the evaluation of the Leeds Neighbourhood Networks (LNNs), building on previous research. The Leeds Neighbourhood Network is made up of 37 community groups that provide a wide range of opportunities, activities and services. They are made up of local schemes that aim to support older people to remain living independently and to participate in their communities through a range of neighbourhood-based activities and services. The report draws on in-depth case studies of six LNNs. Each case study involved a desk-based review of existing evidence and data, and qualitative research with LNN staff, volunteers, members and partners. The evaluation finds that the networks support prevention of ill health through community-based activities and support; help people to manage long-term conditions in order to delay illness severity and maintain a good quality of life; assist people with significant support needs to reduce pressure on healthcare providers.

Music in social care plans for people with dementia: a guide for social workers on how to embed music in personalised social care plans for people living with dementia, and their carers

MUSIC FOR DEMENTIA
2020

This guide explores the benefits of a musical approach for people living with dementia and how to include it in strengths-based assessments, including the role of link workers, family and friends in making this happen. The guide also explains how the music aligns with the ‘the wellbeing principle’ in The Care Act. The information is brought to life with case studies of how music has helped individuals and couples to enhance their quality of life in a variety of ways. It also includes a useful template of questions to ask during an assessment. Some of the many benefits of music included in the full guide are: enabling people living with dementia to be ‘seen as the person they are’ beyond their condition; engaging people positively across the spectrum of severity from diagnosis to end of life care; alleviating symptoms associated with dementia such as agitation, apathy and anxiety; re-energising people living with dementia as they experience and enjoy music from their past.

Groups: learning from Ageing Better

NATIONAL LOTTERY COMMUNITY FUND
2022

This paper focuses on Ageing Better’s learning around groups. It fits into our national learning by illustrating one of the key themes, developing the ecosystem – providing activities and groups people ‘want’ to engage with and opportunities and provision for people to set up their own groups. Ageing Better is a test and learn programme. It is collecting information and insights from across 14 partnerships to identify learning that will be useful for other programmes and organisations delivering activities aimed at reducing social isolation in people aged 50+. Groups have an important role to play in both the prevention of social isolation and loneliness and as an exit route and connection to other things as people become less socially isolated and lonely. Groups have an important role in providing social connection but also in providing people with a structure and purpose. All groups benefit from people aged 50+ playing an active role within them. Groups can be started by volunteers or by paid staff. Anyone can be supported to start a group but the longevity of Ageing Better means socially isolated people could be supported over a longer period to develop their confidence and skills. A range of practical support is needed for groups as they establish. There is an important role for groups organised and run by paid staff as they allow more complex referrals and a reach to people who do not have time to volunteer. Attracting new group members and encouraging existing members to support the group often requires careful use of language to attract and engage people. Making people feel welcome is a key part to supporting people to attend initially and continue to attend sessions. A group facilitator plays a critical role in helping the group function well. The paper also discusses digital groups and hybrid delivery and describes the practicalities to consider when running telephone or online groups.

Learning from the 50+ volunteering programme to support COVID-19 recovery: age-friendly and inclusive volunteering

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY. Nottingham Business School
2021

This briefing brings together lessons from the 50+ volunteering programme with other research and resources to explore how volunteering can be developed and sustained in an age-friendly and inclusive way to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is particularly relevant now as many volunteers aged 50+ had to step back from their volunteering during COVID-19. As organisations bring back their volunteers or look to engage new ones, these lessons will be useful in efforts to sustain the engagement of those aged 50+ and ensure volunteering is age-friendly and inclusive. The programme supported 39 organisations to test and develop ideas or grow existing models involving volunteers aged 50+. Projects from a wide range of fields, backgrounds and sizes were involved, from those growing young people’s mentoring projects to new emerging ideas testing the involvement of 50+ volunteers in community fraud prevention. A key focus for the programme was creating volunteering opportunities for those aged 50+ in and alongside public services, enabling them to use their skills and experiences, creating a ‘habit for volunteering’ and bringing benefits for volunteers and communities. The briefing focuses on two specific areas: 1. Enabling flexibility – useful lessons can be learnt from how organisations made their volunteering offers flexible to help those aged 50+ fit volunteering around their lives. Flexibility has been identified as a key area to support returning volunteers and sustain volunteer involvement as part of COVID-19 recovery; 2. Harnessing the strengths, skills and experiences of volunteers – this was a key focus of the 50+ programme and the evaluation provides useful learning for developing opportunities for 50+ volunteers.

Evaluation of the DCMS 50+ volunteering programme: final report

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY. Nottingham Business School
2021

This report brings together the learning from across the 50+ volunteering programme and evaluates its impact. The evaluation combined a variety of different methods including a meta-analysis of learning partner evaluations, analysis of monitoring data, qualitative interviews with grantees and in-depth case studies with four projects. The programme was a government initiative focused on harnessing the skills and experiences of those aged 50 and over. In total, £5.2 million was awarded to projects over the three-year 50+ volunteering programme, supporting 39 organisations to test and develop ideas or grow existing models involving volunteers aged 50+. The findings on what the 50+ volunteering programme achieved and the difference it made reveals a mixed picture. In terms of successes, the programme enabled a wide range of organisations to test new ideas and grow social action projects to reach new areas, more beneficiaries and volunteers. Overall, the 39 projects mobilised over 25,320 new volunteers who, in turn, supported over 474,730 new beneficiaries. The programme enabled organisations to test different ideas and models for involving 50+ volunteers, from projects focused on building community action around clean air issues to those setting up repair parties to reduce waste and promote social connectedness. The programme has resulted in different examples of projects involving volunteers across different public service areas.

A glass half-full: 10 years on review

FOOT Jane, et al
2020

The publication of ‘A glass half-full’ in 2010 was timely, increasing awareness and deepening debates about how asset-based approaches could be most successfully applied in the UK. The chapters in this ten-year anniversary publication collectively provide policy and practice insights from what we have learned since that time; what challenges remain; and what are the current opportunities to be taken to ensure the potential of asset-based approaches is sustained. The chapters are organised into four themes: policy and structural issues; implementation and organisational change; challenges and critiques; and leadership. Together they reflect the notion that asset-based working needs to be considered at all levels of the system and in a multi-disciplinary way to be successful. Key messages include: asset-based working needs to be considered at all levels of the system and in a multidisciplinary way to be successful; they seek to enhance people’s ability to identify and use their own health resources; asset-based working should not be seen as competition to a deficit approach – a focus on deficits like disease should not be abandoned; learning from practice and sharing experience of what facilitates and hinders success is critical to our ability advance both the conceptual understanding and practical know-how of the asset-approach; policy makers need ensure the necessary supportive environments are in place to ensure success; those adopting asset-based approaches need to be continually reflective and recognise the challenges inherent in remaining true to the values of community control; politicians and senior management should use opportunities, such as financial challenges and devolution, to fundamentally re-think how they could create a new relationship with residents and communities to bring about sustainable public service reform.

Strengths, assets and place - the emergence of Local Area Coordination initiatives in England and Wales

LUNT Neil, BAINBRIDGE Laura, RIPPON Simon
2021

Summary: Local Area Coordination is an approach that emerged during the 1980s and 1990s to support individuals with learning disabilities in rural and metropolitan Western Australia. Offering direct family support, signposting and networking it aimed to improve access to services and promote social inclusion. It leveraged community resources and sought broader transformation through local collaborations and service redesign, as underpinned by a strengths-based philosophy. Scotland introduced a similar model of delivery from the early 2000s for learning disability support. Since 2010, a number of English and Welsh Local Authorities have introduced Local Area Coordination, and in doing so have expanded its support eligibility criteria to include those considered ‘vulnerable’ due to age, frailty, disability, mental health issues and housing precariousness. Findings: This article provides the first review of developments in England and Wales. Drawing upon published evaluation studies it reflects on Local Area Coordination implementation; reviews the existing evidence base and challenges surrounding data collection; and discusses the competing logic of Local Area Coordination in its aim of supporting individual and community improvement of health outcomes and well-being, and of furthering local government civic engagement and participation. Applications: This article points to the challenges and opportunities of implementing such a strength-, assets- and placed-based initiatives within Local Authority social service settings. Embedding Local Area Coordination within Local Authority settings requires skilled political and policy leadership. It balances emerging individual outcomes – health and well-being – with the civic mission (values, control and coproduction), and avoids one being subverted to the other.

Building community capacity and resilience evaluation findings from a two-year practice and research collaboration in Gloucestershire

DYDE Amy, WARDEN Roz, JACQUES Dan
2019

This report presents evaluation findings from a collaboration between four partner organisations in Gloucestershire which sought to promote asset- and strengths-based approaches. Gloucestershire Constabulary, Barnwood Trust, Gloucester City Council, and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner formed the partnership with the collective aim of working together to empower citizen-led action to make Gloucestershire a great place to live. The following collective objectives united the four partner organisations: healthier communities; improved community safety; welcoming and inclusive neighbourhoods; citizens taking control over their own lives; and places where people can come together. Professionals who participated in the research shared their views on and experiences of working in asset- and strengths-based ways. Findings included: a range of professional and personal impacts, including better knowledge about communities and increased job satisfaction; the importance of organisational culture and sufficient time to meaningfully engage with the community; where the intervention was in the form of workshops rather than secondment, changing practices appeared to be less sustained over time. Evidence of impact for residents and community includes: statistically significant evidence for the value of both professional and personal relationships, and their positive impact on perceptions of community cohesion, wellbeing, life satisfaction and, more broadly, perceptions of the police and fear of crime; all 10 residents who were interviewed identified positive impacts for themselves and/or others in the community, including the value of involvement on feeling able to cope (for example, with a health condition); the role that community involvement, including events and groups, played in contributing to feelings of cohesion in an area.