Case studies

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council has worked with Alcohol Concern to support the most difficult, hard-to-reach drinkers.

Surrey County Council has set up a specialist outreach team to work with the most hardto-reach drinkers.

Gateshead Council commissions a dedicated substance misuse service for young people.

The London Borough of Hackney has started to run an employment support programme for people under going substance misuse treatment. The six-week programme offers everything from help writing CVs to confidence building sessions. It has had an immediate impact.

Knowsley Council’s substance misuse service has teamed up with the Liverpool Chest and Heart Hospital to offer testing and treatment for respiratory problems.

A complex cases team has been set up in Leeds to work with street beggars.

The transfer of responsibility for areas of public health in April 2013 from the NHS to local government is one of the most significant extensions of local government powers and duties in a generation. It represents a unique opportunity to change the focus from treating sickness to actively promoting health and wellbeing (the prevention agenda).

82-year-old Oxfordshire-based Jennifer Baird was diagnosed with dementia after a stroke. She became confused and struggled with practical tasks. A sharer, Judith O’Boyle, was found through Share & Care Homeshare, and she lived with Jennifer for 12 months.

The Gold Line is a dedicated 24/7 telephone service for people who may be in their last year of life and their families and aims to support them to receive the right care, in the right place at the right time. This example of how local areas are working to implement overall system change forms part of our care and health improvement digital and information resource.

The social care technology company Konnektis and Bradford Metropolitan District Council have developed an information sharing platform which aims to help people to stay in their home. This example of how local areas are working to implement overall system change forms part of our care and health improvement digital and information resource.