The case studies under this theme explore how councils are adopting new ways of working to improve outcomes and strengthen public financial management.
In Charging for adult social care in England (2023), CIPFA emphasised the need to reduce the barriers between social care and other public services. In line with this, local authorities are rethinking how they operate to achieve the greatest impact for their residents and the public pound. These case studies describe internal reforms across departments, hierarchies, and between finance and services to improve efficiency and get the most out of limited resources. They also showcase how councils are building effective strategic partnerships with external partners. These approaches reflect a shift towards more integrated, responsive and outcomes-focused ways of working that strengthen public financial management and deliver better results for people and communities.
Halton Borough Council: Halton Intermediate Care and Frailty Service (HICaFS)
Halton Borough Council’s case study showcases the Halton Intermediate Care and Frailty Service. The intermediate care service was co-designed with system partners to address demand pressures and develop effective pathways to support a ‘home first’ approach. The model has led to the avoidance of significant costs through reduced packages of care and improved outcomes for people.
Portsmouth City Council: charging income, benefits, and partnership working in finance and adult social care
Portsmouth City Council faced challenges in collecting income from charging. Close collaboration between adult social care and finance teams worked to improve residents’ experiences, maximise benefits and ensure timely, fair charging. A co-located visiting finance team delivers early financial assessments, home-based benefit maximisation and collaborative decision making for clients with deputyship. The team’s integrated approach has reduced delays, simplified procedures, increased accessibility and improved income collection without compromising care.
Read the Portsmouth case study
Newcastle City Council: offering a multi-disciplinary triage at the first point of contact in social care
Newcastle City Council’s approach to the front door of adult social care services has led costs of over £5m per annum being avoided and improved outcomes for residents. The council uses a multi-disciplinary team to explore different ways to meet people’s needs without the need for a social worker, bringing together voluntary, community and social enterprise, enablement, physiotherapy and more.
Somerset Council: My Life, My Future – adult social care transformation programme
Somerset Council responded to a projected £13m overspend in adult social care by launching a system-wide transformation programme. Through collaborative diagnosis, they identified opportunities to better support people to maintain or regain independence, avoiding unnecessary escalation into long-term care. Improvements in reablement delivery, assessment processes and progression planning contributed to better outcomes for residents and a projected £10m in savings between 2022/23 and 2024/25.
