Innovative health and social care service in Hertfordshire picks up top award

A Hertfordshire scheme which helps keep people out of hospital by giving them the care they need in their own homes has won a prestigious award.

HomeFirst scooped the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) award for Health and Social Care, with the judging panel praising the way that all the organisations involved in delivering the scheme are making a real difference to those receiving support.

The scheme was launched in 2012 and is joint project between Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, East and North Herts Clinical Commissioning Group, GPs and Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust.

The HomeFirst team cares for people living with long term conditions as well as supporting those who have been discharged from hospital having been seriously ill. It also offers a ‘rapid response’ service if someone’s health deteriorates suddenly. Teams include nurses, occupational therapists, social workers and care staff. Evidence shows that HomeFirst teams have had a positive impact of reducing emergency admissions in the localities that they serve.

Dr Alison Jackson is a Cheshunt GP who has supported the development of HomeFirst from the start. She said: “HomeFirst has enabled GPs to work differently and more proactively – as part of a wider team of professionals we are helping our patients to have the best possible quality of life. Together we are able to offer patients more individualised care that meets their complex needs in their place of choice, their homes. My GP colleagues and I really value working with the HomeFirst team and now we can’t imagine working without them.”

Further joint working between health and social care teams in Hertfordshire is set to continue through the Better Care Fund. The county council and the NHS in Hertfordshire have pooled more than £580 million, one of the largest in the country, to deliver a programme of schemes to help prevent people going into hospital and to promote their independence.