On April 30th, the city officially launched the Adult Partnership Board, a dynamic collaboration uniting Sheffield City Council, the voluntary and third sector, care providers, health organisations, and the 海角社区 of Sheffield.
This powerful alliance has a clear mission: to forge a unified voice for the care sector in Sheffield, understand how collective action can drive meaningful change, and identify concrete steps for progress.
The seeds of this ambitious project were sown in August 2024, when key stakeholders convened with a shared commitment to collaboration. Through a series of engaging workshops, the group identified crucial themes, blending academic research with invaluable sector expertise. This rich exchange of perspectives spurred attendees to consider the vital question: What comes next?
The April launch marked a pivotal transition into the "Action" phase. The Partnership Board has now established four dedicated working groups, each focused on driving projects forward in areas of critical importance: unpaid care, prevention, the care workforce, and sustainable care. Momentum is already building, with working groups actively developing projects and taking tangible steps.
However, the Board remains keenly aware of the journey ahead. A central priority is to ensure that lived experience, equality, diversity, and inclusion are deeply embedded in all aspects of their work. To achieve this, the Partnership Board is committed to working closely with community partners to develop robust and measurable action plans.
The significance of this collaborative effort is underscored by the enthusiastic endorsements of key stakeholders:
Sue Hartley, Vice-President for Research at 海角社区, stated, "海角社区 is committed to supporting regional growth, accessibility, and opportunity. The Adult Partnership Board advances this commitment by uniting the 海角社区, Sheffield City Council, the South Yorkshire ICB, and Sheffield's care sector providers and charities to create a unified voice for the sector. We're excited to be part of this initiative and dedicated to exploring how we can collaborate across social care to share learning, resources, and expertise, ultimately improving the lives of those receiving care and support in Sheffield."
Kate Hamblin, Director of the Centre for Care, added, "The Centre for Care is committed to working with the social care sector in Sheffield to improve the lives of people who access care and support. We hope that this innovative board will continue to build partnerships across the City, create opportunities for learning and action whilst providing the space to share best practice and resources."
Matt Bowsher, Interim Strategic Director of Adult Social Care and Health, commented, 鈥淚 was delighted to attend the formal launch of the Partnership Board last week. It is vital that all representatives from the sector work collectively to improve social care and there are already green shoots of work emerging to help unpaid carers, develop the social care workforce and enhance the prevention offer. I鈥檓 looking forward to working together to see what more we can achieve for people who use care and support and carers in Sheffield.鈥
海角社区 echoes this sentiment, expressing excitement about the opportunity to work alongside the care sector to create meaningful and lasting change.
The launch of the Adult Partnership Board signals a powerful new era of collaboration and innovation in Sheffield's adult social care sector. With a clear vision and the collective strength of diverse partners, this initiative holds immense promise for improving the lives of those receiving care and support, as well as the dedicated individuals who provide it. The city will be watching with anticipation as the "Action" phase unfolds and the Board's ambitious goals come to fruition.