6.
Implications
This final section summarises the main implications from the VOICES legacy, in particular taking in to account the Changing Futures programme. Briefly, Stoke-onTrent was one of 15 areas in England to be awarded funds from central government and the National Lottery Community Fund to deliver improvements for adults experiencing multiple disadvantage at the individual, service, and system level: stabilise and then improve the life situation of adults who face multiple disadvantage transform local services to provide a person-centred approach and to reduce crisis demand to test a different approach to funding, accountability and engagement between local commissioners and services, and between central government and local areas The Stoke-on-Trent Changing Futures approach builds on the approach and learning from VOICES, intervening system, service and individual levels, which interact as described in the Changing Futures proposal:
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At the system level, we will reconnect systems design and commissioning to the lived experience of practitioners and beneficiaries through a CRM with access to live quantitative and qualitative data. Learning will be captured and disseminated at the service level through a community of practice and workforce development function informed by lived experience. This will equip practitioners at the individual level across the whole system with the up-to-date knowledge and skills required to work more effectively and empathise with people experiencing multiple disadvantage, promoting a person-centred and trauma-informed culture. A Case Coordination Team and Multi-agency Resolution Group will triage and escalate the most problematic frontline situations for analysis, resource allocation, information and risk sharing, and to act as a bridge to connect the frontline, management, strategic oversight, and commissioning functions”
The legacy of VOICES in this proposal is clear. Changing Futures has effectively provided resource to build on VOICES’ work, and the VOICES Director played a central role in the successful bid (which can be considered an additional, considerable part of the VOICES legacy beyond March 2022). We suggest some main implications, in the context of Changing Futures, listed under each of the VOICES priority areas.
6.1 Fair access to services CRM, MARG, silo working and system fragmentation Changing Futures is a multi-agency partnership (as was VOICES), will use a multi-agency CRM (like VOICES) and includes the MARG (which VOICES has helped to develop/shape after it was initiated by the Local Authority). These factors aim to address issues of silo working and system fragmentation observed through VOICES work and which VOICES tried to address. The legacy of VOICES in these parts of the Changing Futures model are clear. First, the multi-agency partnership of VOICES was clearly important for raising awareness and engaging organisations from the public and third sector in efforts to support the customer group. The Changing Futures partnership will build on this at the system level, with an even broader partnership.
