The landscape of adult health and social care is changing dramatically. Regulatory reform, escalating service demands, fewer resources and less predictable funding are all driving service providers to innovate and collaborate to sustain service quality and efficiency. As demand for adult care and support outgrows resources, the importance of quality and a system that puts customers at the centre of service design becomes paramount.

In response to these challenges, Local Authorities working together with the NHS, community partners and other service providers, are implementing new methods of service access and delivery, adopting new ways of working, and involving service users in the design of services.

This award acknowledges the outstanding work of Adult Service teams and their partners in improving the quality of life for many of the most needy and vulnerable people in our society. It recognises exemplary achievements in delivering better outcomes for users and promotes examples of best practice.

Criteria

The Judges will be looking for:

• Demonstrably better service outcomes with sustainable performance improvement in the quality of service
• Innovation in methods of delivering care and support that accelerate positive change
• Services designed around the needs and experiences of service users and carers
• Methods and practice that are replicable and contribute to best practice
• A culture of quality and continuous improvement
• Collaborative working with stakeholders including partners, third party providers and commissioners
• Effective risk management with a measured attitude to risk taking