Government issues guidance for councils on Accelerating Reform Fund supporting innovation in adult social care

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued guidance for local authorities on the Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF), which will provide a total of £42.6m in grant funding over 2023 to 2024 (£20m) and 2024 to 2025 (£22.6m), to support innovation in adult social care.

The guidance says: “While the care sector has been innovating for decades, sometimes impactful innovations can remain on the margins, rather than becoming the mainstream way of delivering care and support.

“Through the ARF, the department wants to support the growth of services that make person-centred care a reality for those who draw on it, support unpaid carers to live healthy and fulfilling lives alongside their caring role and respond to rising demand and the changing needs of local populations. Collaboration and communication are vital to embedding and sustaining innovations.”

It adds that the ARF is designed to promote partnership working across local areas, as well as sharing of learning and best practice nationally.

The guidance covers:

• The aim of the ARF: priorities; unpaid carers;
• Process: forming a consortium; expression of interest form; eligibility; funding distribution approach; SCIE support; memorandum of understanding; reporting; evaluation;
• Timeline.

The guidance can be viewed here.