Inclusion, involvement and consultation

Case studies

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) appointed Cordis Bright to assist them to develop and road test a vision and set of principles for care and support reform. The project would assist them in the immediate term in their discussions with central and local government, as well as longer-term initiatives to promote equality and human rights.

This high profile piece of work involved extensive consultation with over 50 stakeholders including statutory, independent and user-representative organisations. This was complemented by a detailed literature review and roundtable discussions. Our report included a set of vision and principles for social care reform, combined with a set of specific goals to be achieved around information and assessment, market management and regulation, outcomes improvement, and prioritising equality and human rights.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure sufficient childcare in their local areas. They are required to undertake a childcare sufficiency assessment, develop an action plan and manage the market to better meet the needs of children and families.

We have supported over 35 local authorities in completing their assessment and/or action plan. Our work included: analysis of demographic and socio-economic factors; consultations with parents/carers, childcare providers and employers about local need via questionnaires, focus groups and interviews; and analysis of supply data. We produced concise and targeted gap analyses that highlighted key priorities to inform the action plan. Our action planning approach ensured that all relevant stakeholders were involved in improving childcare and that actions linked explicitly to strategic priorities within the Children's Trust.

This national social care provider had an existing and well-regarded homecare service. Cordis Bright was commissioned to undertake a review of this service and make recommendations of how the service may need to change in light of personalisation.

For this project, we evaluated the organisation's business systems via desk based reviews and interviews with managers, as well as conducting face to face interviews with disabled people in their own homes. These interviews explored service users' preferred options for greater choice in their care, and especially the support needs disabled people may face as potential employers of their own carers. Our innovative recommendations captured the best of current practice whilst recognising the key drivers for change in service provision.