Leaders representing Councils, acute hospitals, GPs, the voluntary sector, community and mental health services across North Central London came together for a significant Neighbourhood Health system workshop.The workshop marked the beginning of NCL’s journey to explore a shared vision for neighbourhood working – a recognition that health and social care services are in need of significant change to ensure that we are supporting local people to live and stay well.
Frances O’Callaghan, CEO of the North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCLICB), who opened the workshop, said: “We’ve been talking for some time about shifting care closer to communities, but this time feels different – national and local ambitions are aligning in a way we haven’t seen before. We already have some brilliant foundations in place across NCL, including fantastic multi-disciplinary teams across all five boroughs who are shaping care around local people.
“In East Barnet, for example, proactive case finding through one of our Long-Term Conditions Services has identified around 7,000 people who could be better supported through a neighbourhood approach to care. And we know there will be similar cohorts in every neighbourhood across NCL, groups of people who would benefit from more proactive, personalised, joined-up support.”
Sarah McDonnell-Davies, Director of Place at NCLICB, shared our progress and ambition in building stronger neighbourhood partnerships, where GPs, community services, mental health teams, social care, the voluntary sector and others, work closely together to support the health and wellbeing of local residents, saying: “Neighbourhoods work when they’re built on trust, between residents, staff, and services.”
The move towards neighbourhood care is a key part of our strategy to provide more joined-up, person-centred care, and reflects the ambitions of the wider integrated care system. It recognises that the best solutions are often found closest to the communities we serve.
Amy Bowen, Director of Proactive Care and Long-Term Conditions at NCL ICB, stated: “Colleagues across NCL are motivated by the renewed opportunities to engage with residents and communities; we want the Neighbourhood Health strategy to be co-designed with the people it seeks to support.”
It was a thought-provoking and hugely valuable day, with comments from key partners including Geoffrey Ocen from The Bridge Renewal Trust, John Everson from Islington Council, Sara Sutton from Haringey Council, Selina Douglas from Whittington Health, Graeme Caul from Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and Jess Lievesley from North London NHS Foundation Trust, as well as a huge number of other partners who engaged from across Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Islington and Haringey.