Strengths-based working in a complex system to deliver financially sustainable stronger patient outcomes and improved operational outcomes.
Strengths-based working in a complex system to deliver

Behaviour change trials to improve and reduce demand in adult social care
IMPOWER have been a strategic partner of Sheffield City Council Adult Services since 2014. We have helped the department transform during that time, including developing a business case that identified £10.3m worth of savings. As part of implementing the business case, in October 2015 IMPOWER were commissioned to demonstrate the effectiveness of using behaviour change tools to deliver demand management benefits in adult social care.
The business case had proven that influencing the customer journey at each step to increase independence, rather than route towards high cost care services, offers a significant opportunity to both save money and improve outcomes. Most of the demand is driven by human behaviour and decisions (from a mixture of users of services, carers, Council staff and partners). This project was focused on changing the high impact customer journey areas and demonstrating that behaviours and pathways can be changed.
Working alongside Council staff, IMPOWER focused on three areas; Information and Advice, Initial Contact and Reviews and Reassessment, to develop, launch and monitor a of number of tools and behavioural trials.
IMPOWER and Sheffield Council staff worked together to develop high impact interventions and change behaviours in the adult social care journey. Specifically:
Across the areas we also used behavioural science coaching for managers and front line staff, to help them set appropriate defaults and norms and use solution focused and independence centred language.
Although only in place for a short period during this project, the impact of these interventions was significant.
Information and advice: The evaluation of the revised Information and Advice Guides gave universally positive feedback from different sources. Key findings were that the information was easier to navigate and were more effective at signposting to alternative options rather than drawing people inappropriately to the Council for support
Initial contact: The interventions with the Adult Access team delivered a major shift in demand, including
Reviews and reassessment: The behaviour insight-driven approach in Reviews and Reassessment has become the main thrust of the change and savings approach in 2016/17 in both Older Adults and Learning Disability services.
IMPOWER continue to work with Sheffield City Council to support and enable the acceleration of change activity to realise the £10.3m of savings through the programme business case.
To discuss this case study, or our wider work in Adult Social Care, please contact Jeremy Cooper on jcooper@impower.co.uk
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