Essex Public Health and Essex County Council Adult Social Care (ASC)Teams have made a commitment to commission a pioneering Essex-wide, three-year, Early Help and Prevention service called ‘Reconnect’, with Sport for Confidence CIC as the selected provider.
Building upon the success of the Prevention and Enablement Model (PEM); a pioneering Active Essex Local Delivery Pilot test and learn initiative in partnership with ASC and Sport for Confidence, Reconnect will harness the power of physical activity to improve the lives of people living with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions in Essex, and help them lead more fulfilling lives.
Evaluated by the University of Essex in 2023, it was clear that PEM had many beneficial outcomes. Utilising a whole systems approach within health and adult social care, the pilot was able to support individuals to access physical activity in their local community, with the support of an Allied Health Professional. It also demonstrated self-reported increases in confidence, independence, and social connections, as well as deliver £58.72 of social value for every £1 invested.
As part of the Reconnect service, an evidence-based Occupational Therapy-Led model will be deployed to support people with learning needs and/or disabilities, autism, long-term health conditions, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, as well as their carers. The service will be community-based and will use physical activity as a tool to build and maintain physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. With a person-centred and holistic approach at its core, the service aims to empower individuals to achieve their goals and lead fulfilling lives.
As strategic and delivery partner for PEM, Sport for Confidence CIC were essential in the design and delivery of the physical activity sessions. They also provided education and guidance to health and social care professionals, supporting the embedding of effective, progressive and results-focused activity programmes into patient care plans.
As part of the implementation of Reconnect, Sport for Confidence will continue to work with local services and organisations to ensure individuals are informed about the service and the wider community pathways available to them after accessing support.
Lyndsey Barrett, Founder of Sport for Confidence and Lead Occupational Therapist said; “This is a huge step change in health delivery. Whilst Sport For Confidence has had a long-standing positive relationship with Essex County Council, this is the first time the council has funded a county-wide initiative that places physical activity at the heart of a prevention strategy within adult health and social care.”
Jeanette Bain-Burnett, Executive Director Policy and Integrity, Sport England, says: “The Reconnect programme will create a fully integrated physical activity pathway which ultimately supports good health, while preventing ill health. In targeting those who traditionally struggle to get physically active, the programme is absolutely aligned to the ambitions of our 10 year Uniting the Movement strategy.”
Reconnect represents a significant step forward in positively impacting the health and wellbeing of individuals, the economy, and in reducing the growing health inequalities the county faces. The positive outcomes from PEM, demonstrate that by successfully using physical activity as a tool within a whole systems and preventative approach in adult social care, can truly be transformational.
Councillor John Spence, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Integration said; “The benefits from being physically active are well documented. Our successful trial programme has now demonstrated the major role physical activity can play in increasing the confidence and independence of people living with a disability or long-term health condition. The introduction of Reconnect is genuinely pioneering work, building on previous programmes and supporting residents’ health and wellbeing. By enabling people to live more independently, and therefore have less need for health and care services, this is a real win-win for Essex.”
To find out more about the Reconnect programme, visit: https://www.activeessex.org/local-delivery-pilot/our-bigger-projects/reconnect/
