Community Wellbeing Pilot

The Community Wellbeing Pilot (CWBP) Evaluation was a two-year piece of partnership work with Leeds City Council Adult Social Care Services to evaluate Adult Home Care Services working within a new and innovative model. The evaluation took place during and after national lockdown and involved a flexible and adaptable way of working, moving from a form of virtual ethnography to traditional in person participant observation when allowed. The evaluation process highlighted that a better community home care system is possible. The CWBP marks a radical change to the current model of care delivery, that of traditional time and task. The time and task model has created a system that places emphasis on organisational need, process and managing risks, and it lacks the adequate flexibility to meet the contemporary care needs of service users and carers. 

The model introduced by the CWBP offers new methods based on principles of a co-produced person-centred care, which is flexible and adaptable. The CWBP was delivered in partnership with two externally commissioned Care Agencies (CA) across two geographical areas of the city. This new approach to care was delivered using a multi-disciplinary approach and working collaboratively with a range of health and social care professions. A core component of CWBP was a commitment by professionals to actively encourage community support networks. The CWBP evaluation has highlighted the following key outcomes including an improved experience for service users and carers who receive flexible and consistent care focused on the person and not the process. We also noted that increased job satisfaction and stability for Home Care Workers lead to improved recruitment and retention. Underpinning these outcomes is a more dynamic, efficient care service that can demonstrate savings, and a model that is sustainable and transferable from its original pilot area.