Familiar faces and help before a crisis: SERVE welcomes neighbourhood care plans
Northamptonshire charity calls for councils, NHS and community organisations to turn national plans into practical support for local families
Seeing a familiar carer at the door and getting help before problems become a crisis should be at the heart of changes to social care, says Northamptonshire charity SERVE.
The Rushden-based charity has welcomed government plans announced this week to organise more homecare around local neighbourhoods. The aim is to give people greater continuity of care while reducing the time careTS spend travelling between visits.
Councils will be encouraged to arrange homecare within smaller areas, with one or two main providers serving each neighbourhood.
Government guidance and toolkits are expected in spring 2027.
Tony Gibbs, Chief Executive of SERVE, said:
“For someone who needs support at home, a familiar face can make an enormous difference. It means spending less time explaining your needs and building trust with somebody who understands your daily life.
“A carer who knows you may also notice when something changes—perhaps you are becoming less steady on your feet, eating less or feeling more withdrawn. Recognising those signs early creates an opportunity to help before things get worse.”
SERVE says closer local working should connect homecare with the everyday support that helps people remain independent, including befriending, community transport, meaningful activities, practical help and support for unpaid family carers
Tony added:
“A well-organised care visit matters, but so does what happens between visits. Can someone get to an appointment? Do they have people to talk to? Is a family carer struggling without a break?
“These are everyday concerns for families. Bringing services together around a neighbourhood could make it easier to find help and reduce the risk of people falling through gaps.”
Through its Communities Working Better Together proposals, SERVE is inviting councils, NHS organisations, care providers, charities and people with experience of care to develop a Northamptonshire prevention pilot.
The proposed pilot would build on existing services and neighbourhood arrangements. It would measure activity, mobility, falls risk, social connection and independence, alongside whether better support helps reduce avoidable demand on health and care services.
SERVE is calling on North Northamptonshire Council and the NHS Integrated Care Board for Northamptonshire, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to work with the charity and other voluntary and community partners to explore the approach.
Tony said:
“We believe Northamptonshire can help turn this national ambition into practical learning. The opportunity is to connect the services and relationships already here, agree what needs to improve and measure the difference for people.
“For this to work, funding must cover the real cost of good quality care, families must retain meaningful choice, and trusted local providers must have a fair opportunity to contribute.”
There will also be a further opportunity for the public to influence national reform. The Casey Commission has confirmed that its Big Conversation on Care online platform will reopen in December with new questions. An exact opening date and closing deadline have not yet been announced.
Tony concluded:
“People receiving care, family carers and care workers understand what works and where help is missing. Their experiences must shape the changes ahead.
“Our message is simple: help people receive good care when they need it, and invest in the community support that helps them stay well and independent for longer.”