NDTi, NIHR and the University of Birmingham win European Social Services Award for CLS Research

NDTi’s Community Led Support programme, in partnership with the NIHR funded research team led by the University of Birmingham, has won a prestigious award.

NDTi’s Community Led Support programme team at the awards.

NDTi’s Community Led Support (CLS) programme, in partnership with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded research team led by the University of Birmingham, has won a prestigious European Social Services Award (ESSA).

The annual awards recognise outstanding achievements, shining a spotlight on successful new approaches and the extraordinary ongoing work within the public social services sector.

Beating off stiff competition from across Europe, the partnership won the research and evaluation award for a recently published two-year independent study of the programme.

Changing culture not just process was led by Professor Robin Miller at the University of Birmingham and involved researchers from King’s College London, University of Kent and other members of the NIHR funded Adult Social Care & Social Work Priority Programme. The evaluation provided both objective assessment of the impact of CLS and an understanding of how the programme achieves change.

The collaboration demonstrates the importance of researchers and practice organisations working together, and I am delighted on behalf of our multi-university team and our contributors with lived experience of social care.

Professor Robin Miller, University of Birmingham

The evaluation was led by Professor Robin Miller at the University of Birmingham, who said: “We’re delighted to see our work recognised on a European stage. The collaboration demonstrates the importance of researchers and practice organisations working together, and I am delighted on behalf of our multi-university team and our contributors with lived experience of social care. This award goes to everyone involved.”

The research project was co-designed with NDTi’s Community Led Support team, participating local authorities, and people with lived experience of social care. It focussed on culture change, distributive leadership, co-production and the overall impacts of CLS.

Jenny Pitts, Community Led Support programme lead at NDTi, said: “It was a pleasure to work with the team at NIHR to really understand the impact the programme is having. Over the past 10 years we’ve had the immense privilege of working alongside 35 local authorities to support them in transforming how they deliver adult social care.

“This research verifies a picture of the positive impact we have seen across the local areas we have worked with. It’s a long-term, system-wide, strengths-based and collaborative way of working that demonstrates what’s possible when you work differently with communities and put people at the heart of the approach.”

NDTi was also shortlisted for a service delivery award for Small Supports. The programme was recognised for its work to support communities to set up small, local organisations to enable people to live a life they choose, at home rather than in long stay inpatient settings. Recent research indicates that Small Supports organisations not only offer improved support but also represent a significant investment in the local economy and benefit local health and care budgets.

Notes for editors

  • For media inquiries please contact Ellie Hail, Communications Officer, University of Birmingham on +44 (0)7966 311 409. Out-of-hours, please call +44 (0) 121 414 2772.

  • The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries.
  • More about NDTi
    The National Development Team for Inclusion( NDTi) is an independent, not for profit organisation. We have worked alongside people, communities, policy makers, support organisations and services for over 30 years. Our programmes cover all life stages and include research, evaluation, coproduction and organisational change. We strive to create a world where everyone matters, and our work helps create independence and choice for everyone. Find out more at ndti.org.uk.

    What is Community Led Support?
    • Values-led change that really delivers for people, communities and organisations.
    • A focus on developing and embedding strengths-based cultures.
    • A system-wide approach across all areas, including community teams, first contact teams, commissioning and local partners.
    • A long-term approach that focuses on a strong desire, and courage, to work differently and put people at the heart of services.
    • A set of clear principles which looks different in every community and responds to local priorities.
    • Enables a range of welcoming community spaces where people can have ‘conversations’ focussed on what matters to them as opposed to service led assessments.
  • More about ARC and NIHR
    The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funds local collaborations to support applied health and care research and research on implementation of health and care evidence into day-to-day practice. These are called NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs).
    Find out more about NIHR’s Applied Research Collaborations.