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How do we know Local Area Coordination works?

Since its inception in 1988 in Western Australia, there have been many evaluations that show, where it is designed properly with local people and there is strong, connected leadership there are very consistent positive outcomes.

In England and Wales there is a growing body of evidence on the outcomes for individuals, community and the service system. These are coming from  evaluations on the active programmes.

The wider outcomes include:

  • Reductions in referrals/visits to GP, A&E, adult care, mental health and safeguarding services; avoided housing evictions
  • Reduced dependence on day services and better health outcomes
  • Relationship developments across neighbourhoods leading to increased community capacity
  • Independent Social Return on Investment (SROI) evaluations in Leicestershire (2017) Derby City (2016) and Thurrock (2015) Councils have shown at least £4 return for every £1 invested
  • Swansea University (2016) Significant cost benefit of between 2:1 – 3:1 (plus cautious cost saving estimate of £1.2 million in 1st year of operation with 3 Coordinators)
  • Contribution to system reform and culture change through cross system partnerships

People themselves report:

  • Feeling less isolated through Increased valued, informal, support relationships
  • Increasing capacity of families to continue in caring role,
  • Improved access to information
  • Improved access to specialist services, communities
  • Support into volunteering, training and employment,

The Local Area Coordination network facilitates connections between and joint work with researchers and evaluators working with Local Area Coordination sites. Contact us to find out more.

The evaluations of the different programmes include:

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2019

Suffolk independent evaluation

The evaluation of Local Area Coordination in Suffolk by the University of Essex was published.

Download the Suffolk evaluation
Download the Suffolk evaluation summary

Waltham Forest independent evaluation

The formative evaluation of Local Area Coordination in Waltham Forest by Leeds Beckett University was published.

Download the Waltham Forest formative evaluation

Isle of Wight independent evaluation

The independent evaluation of Local Area Coordination on the Isle of Wight by Wessex Academic Health Science Network was published.

Download the Isle of Wight independent evaluation

2018

Swansea University

The evaluation of Local Area Coordination in Neath Port Talbot and Swansea by Swansea University, in partnership with the Western Bay Health and Social Care Programme was published.

Download the Swansea University Local Area Coordination Evaluation report

2017

Leicestershire evaluation and social return on investment

Leicestershire County Council and M·E·L Research launched an evaluation  report for Local Area Coordination in Leicestershire which looked at the social return on investment.

Download the Leicestershire evaluation and social return on investment report

Derby and Thurrock evaluation learning outcomes

TLAP and Kingfishers completed an evaluation of the learning outcomes from the independently produced Derby and Thurrock Social Return on Investment (SROI) reports.

Download the Derby and Thurrock evaluation learning outcomes

Derby SROI

TLAP launched a report that looks at the Social Return on Investment (SROI) for Local Area Coordination in Derby, alongside another that compares the results with Thurrock. The report was funded by TLAP and developed from our work with a number of health and wellbeing boards to embed our earlier ‘Strong and Inclusive Communities Framework’.

Download the Derby SROI report

Southampton Solent Isle of Wight formative evaluation

Following on from recent Social Return on Investment (SROI) evaluations in Derby City and Thurrock (and previous national and international studies), this report provides context to understand the early findings from implementing Local Area Coordination, and offers areas for conversations to build and enhance the effectiveness of Local Area Coordination in working alongside people, communities, organisations and agencies in practice to better enable people to achieve their vision of a good life on the Isle of Wight.

Download the Southampton Solent Isle of Wight formative evaluation

Read More

2016

Thurrock SROI

Thurrock Council and Kingfishers launched a report that looks at the Social Return on Investment (SROI) for Local Area Coordination and Adult Social Care in Thurrock.

Download the Thurrock SROI report

2015

Want to learn more?

Get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

Contact us

Latest news

  • Collaborating for real change – social prescribing and Local Area Coordination – a blog by Nick Sinclair and Sian Lockwood
  • Changing paths in Derbyshire. The power of good life conversations – a blog by Nick Sinclair
  • Trailblazing GPs in Swansea help to grow Local Area Coordination

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