iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

In the Northern edition of our Thinking Outside the Box session with Principle Social Workers and professional leads. What does Neighbourhood mean? Do we look from a system or a citizen point of view? @nicksinclair.bsky.social @annarandle.bsky.social @mroutled.bsky.social

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

We should trade off high-time / low-reward transactional relationships, replacing them with tech for instance, to invest in deep relationships where they are most needed.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Sir David Robinson of the Relationships Project closes the Local Area Coordination national gathering with why relationships should be central to all public and private services - not just LAC. Relationships work - they are the strongest indicator of the success of services.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The Local Area Coordination (LAC) National Gathering kicks off at our partners at UCL with welcome from Tom Richards. 40 people in the room and 60 online, including newest LAC area Leicester City, and Brent whom we are supporting to build on the learning from LAC for their wider prevention work.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Banke has established a mental health support enterprise that “allows me to give back to the community that raised me” now supporting 5 people and with big ambition for the future. This is Neighbourhood Health in action.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Greenwich is drawing on learning from its Community and Micro-enterprise programme to drive the shift to neighbourhood health and community support in partnership with the VCSE sector

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Part of a panel talking VCSE commissioning at @vodgmembership.bsky.social CEO’s conference, with Julie Bass of @turningpoint-uk.bsky.social, Ru Anwar of Trowers & Hamlin, & education pioneer & NHS board member Kevin Davis DL. In the VCSE sector we need to lead the commissioning change we seek.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Our Catalyst, Joseph Espindola, helped Antony, who is autistic, to realise his vision of creating an inclusive travel business using his experience to help people with learning disabilities to travel confidently and independently. Together, they developed AJ’s Travel.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

We enjoyed virtual community capacity building with thoughtful & creative DHSC civil servants yesterday- one quote about the value of our Thinking Outside the Box session: “We can’t see community from Whitehall!” The DHSC team came up with great ideas for how to scale up asset-based prevention.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Great to meet Local Area Coordinators across London and the South East today, talking strategy to grow and strengthen the national network, staying true to its principles which are needed now more than ever

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Always brilliant to hear @beccadove2.bsky.social - pioneer of relational practice & Family Group Conferencing (We are building on that children/ families work with FGC for adults: www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/2023/07/11/a...) Tackling strategic and practice change together are key to Camden success

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

The panel reflect on the gap between where the drive for system change comes from - senior leaders - & who carries the regulatory & procurement risks of doing things radically: junior officers in procurement, data, performance. Senior leaders serious about change need to find ways to own the risks

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

The shift to relational services saves money. Using gov estimate - 363,000 people experiencing ‘severe and multiple disadvantage’ (3+ of homelessness, mental ill-health, substance misuse and violence and abuse) implies reductions in wasteful & duplicative use of over £18 billion in England alone

Return on investment?
• Local programmes are showing average drop in public service use of approximately £50,000 per person per year
• Using government estimates of 363,000 people experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage (at least three of homelessness, mental ill-health, substance misuse and violence and abuse) implies reductions in wasteful and duplicative use of over £18 billion in England alone.
• Broadening out to include all 586,000 who experience severe disadvantage (at least one of the problems listed above) and the potential rises to £37
billion.
• Practical experience of the Liberated Method showed that savings are rapid.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

The launch of Policy Priorities to Support Relational services kicks off with Andrew Laird of @mutualventures.bsky.social Prof Hannah Hesselgreaves of @mmuperu.bsky.social sets out what really creates value in public services: the relationship between people within them, not the service alone

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

It's Local Area Coordination week. This year we are celebrating what is unique about the approach in how it transforms people's lives. Over the week we'll share content from the different areas making up the Local Area Coordination Network #LACWeek2026

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Enjoying listening to Camden colleagues describing adult family group conferencing: adults with all kinds of challenges are supported by a network blending informal and professional supporters, building on Maui practices from New Zealand. We support the national network

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

How Greater Manchester is attempting to make that shift

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

The shift from transactional to relational support systems via @socialcarefuture.bsky.social

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

in Bolton @mroutled.bsky.social gets the Greater Manchester Going for the Win Win session kicked off. We are supporting the community of practice with strengths based prevention and asset-based commissioning to reshape provider markets: boosting small local enterprises.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Harrogate, where Community Catalysts has our base, looking lovely in the cold late winter sun. Great to spend the day with two @commcats.bsky.social chief execs: Pip Cannons and founder Sian Lockwood for handover and reflection

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Tom Richards of @commcats.bsky.social welcomes 50 Local Area Coordinators in the North and Midlands to our regular gathering. Some areas here have complete LAC coverage, transforming inclusion, prevention and community building, and how public services more widely think and act.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

How do we get there? 1. Put relationships first. 2. Commission services where relationships are central. 3. Plan and develop the built environment for meeting and ‘bumping’.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

David quotes from his piece co-authored with our own @nicksinclair.bsky.social - Good places have services that bring us together, facilities built for connection, and bumping spaces where relationships are designed in, not designed out

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Sir David has spent his life in community development. Here are five things he’s learned

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

This combination of more value, tailored relational support and big savings for Direct Payment holders and self-funders is a win-win, boosting Neighbourhood Health, outcomes & employment. Our Directory includes enterprises like Julie’s Strolls with Poles www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/smallgoodstu...

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Helen Allen describes @commcats.bsky.social work with Suffolk Council where Lenka set up a micro enterprise to support local people live well with support needs. Lenka is one of 180 agencies in Suffolk which support 1200 people with safe personalised support costing £8 per hour less than agencies

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

At our event with National Innovation Centre for Ageing, Vici Richardson of Disability North sets out how to make Direct Payments enable people to thrive not just survive. DN support older as well as younger people to employ PAs. Betty stayed at home aged 100 with the team DN helped her recruit.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Local Area Coordination in South Tyneside: Hazel Cuthbertson describes the journey from the traditional crisis and escalation system to building support with and around people, to get the most from citizens, their networks and all kinds of local organisations, not just state services.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

We’re exploring what a good neighbourhood looks and feels like, including when we need support in our lives, and how do we build those places, including through Community Micro Enterprise which transforms the local provider market, and Local Area Coordination which transforms prevention.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Lovely to listen to the wisdom of @clentonf.bsky.social at the start of Day 2 with @commcats.bsky.social We are with 100+ colleagues and activists at The Catalyst Newcastle University, getting visionary and practical about building neighbourhoods that enable Living Well.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Always looks like the #SocialCareFuture Gathering is being raided by the police, but I think the venue is just next to the police station…

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

The final group has been making recommendations on improving commissioning and finding areas which have moved away from rigid buying systems towards creative partnerships

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

An overview of the practical problems and solutions uncovered by the Plumbing and Wiring work so far. Next up @martinwalkersds.bsky.social of @tlap.bsky.social is looking at how Direct Payment uptake can be improved and provide better alternatives in ways that people can manage.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Sessions starts with us gathering thoughts on a future approach to understanding what good looks like and measuring the outcomes of care and support. Loads of great ideas to add to our group’s initial recommendations (pictured)

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

At #socialcarefuture gathering Andy McCabe introduces the session on Fixing Adult Social Care’s plumbing and wiring

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Every time I come to the social care future gathering at the friends meeting house in Manchester, I walked past this quote and can’t resist taking a picture of it

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Salford’s Support and Action Women’s Network choir getting #SocialCareFuture gathering off to an uplifting musical start in Manchester. Anna Severwright sets out the vision for a good life and the practical focus of SCF’s work. At @impower.bsky.social we are supporting on meaningful outcomes

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

The ADASS spring seminar closes with Cabinet Office Minister @georgiagould.bsky.social: we need to draw on the strengths of communities for better public services and the power of listening to people. Successful reform builds from the ground up.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock addresses #ADASSSpringSeminar reflecting on the value care that his mother Glenys Kinnock drew on. Begins with human rights. Social care brings independence & a full life. “For the gift of dignity that care workers offer, they must receive a fair wage.”

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Adult social care leaders do not feel involved in mental health strategies and feel involvement of people who draw on care and support is patchy

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

@coproisaac.bsky.social says it’s not ok that someone in crisis and suicidal can ring a crisis line, take a long time to get through and be advised to take a bath. Confidence among the audience of social care leaders in mental health provision is low:

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

#ADASSSpringSeminar session on mental health with @coproisaac.bsky.social “people don’t want lots of expensive things: they want dignity and a place-based response. We need to move away from a medical model when becoming unwell often starts with social problems” @tlap.bsky.social

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

ADASS launches the @adass.bsky.social Coproduction Strategy with @tlap.bsky.social -Ensure an inclusive & accessible workspace -Stir in consistent lived experience insight -Keep your pantry stocked (with experts) -Use a prep checklist -Follow (& share) a house recipe -Keep your skills sharp

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Guessing @eddavey.libdems.org.uk is the first party leader to talk at @adass.bsky.social #ADASSSpringSeminar - talks about the strong reaction to talking about support for his son who has a learning disability and his wife Emily talking about her MS

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

At #ADASSSpringSeminar @jessmcp.bsky.social new @adass.bsky.social President says she will be guided by Camden’s mantra ‘to love is to act’ in her Presidential year

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Most popular question for CQC is: Is CQC seeing a correlation between levels of deprivation and LA rating? What does this say about funding model? James references @impower.bsky.social analysis : www.linkedin.com/posts/alexfo...

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Keymn Whervin Co-chair West Mids ADASS Coproduction group talks about the value of involving people who draw on care and support in reforming regulation. People are looking for regulation to keep people safer but then want improvement after inspections eg in equity which is a widespread challenge

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Provider perspective from @vicrayner.bsky.social @ncfcareforum.bsky.social : Providers seek a reset relationship between regulator and providers to shift to be more collaborative, trusting and enabling work on innovation, eg tech-enabled care. Care Provider Alliance glad to be working with CQC.

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

There have been 33 assessments of councils - that process still developing. Emerging themes: • Access to support • Support for unpaid carers • Understanding your local population • Children to adulthood transition • Market sustainability • Prevention

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Alex Fox @alexfoxshared.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

How is CQC changing? Julian Hartley and @jamesbullion.bsky.social are at @adass.bsky.social Spring Seminar. CQC is: - clearing inspection and registration backlogs - fixing their systems - rebuilding culture & relationships

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