Prevention at the front door of adult social care: Building a future-ready, resilient system

Adult social care in the UK is facing unprecedented challenges due to rising demand and tightening budgets. Adopting a prevention-first approach has emerged as a sustainable solution, helping people live independently while easing the financial strain on local authorities – benefiting both citizens and care providers.

The Care Act identifies prevention as a fundamental responsibility for local authorities (LAs), with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) evaluating how effectively these duties are fulfilled. Imosphere is working with LAs to adopt a prevention-first approach at the “front door” of adult social care, empowering citizens to maintain their independence while laying the groundwork for long-term financial sustainability.

Prevention as a strategic investment

Investment in preventative measures shows significant returns, with recent research suggesting increased spending on prevention could yield a remarkable £11 billion in savings. By addressing needs before they escalate, local authorities can avoid more intensive – and costly – interventions further down the line. This approach not only reduces demand for emergency and acute services, such as hospital admissions, but also enables funds to be reinvested into community-based support, allowing resources to stretch further while supporting citizens to live fulfilling, independent lives.

Empowering independence through self-assessment

A prevention-first approach begins with self-assessment, allowing individuals to proactively understand their needs and available options before those needs reach a critical point. Imosphere’s toolkit enables citizens to access self-assessment tools, which help them find information, advice, and local services tailored to their specific circumstances. Working upstream empowers people to make informed decisions early on, reducing dependency and providing LAs with a means to allocate resources more efficiently. By reducing the number of complex cases that require intensive resources, LAs can more effectively channel support where it’s needed most, enhancing both efficiency and quality of service.

Linking self-assessment to targeted intervention

Self-assessment is just the beginning of a comprehensive prevention strategy. Imosphere’s data-driven toolkit links self-assessment outcomes with targeted interventions, such as assistive equipment and resources that encourage independence. This targeted approach enables citizens to live independently for longer, while addressing specific needs quickly and efficiently. By meeting needs early on, LAs can reduce the demand for long-term support, creating a streamlined, proactive approach to care. In the coming months, Imosphere will introduce specialised resources that extend self-assessment into real, tailored solutions.

Innovation across the country: Prevention in action

Local authorities are already demonstrating the power of prevention-focused care. In Oxfordshire, for instance, OT-led clinics provide early, expert support to residents, while Sunderland has reimagined its therapies services, working with Imosphere to develop the Building Independence & Strengths Assessment (BISA). BISA uses a strengths-based, preventative approach to help assess citizens’ support needs, giving LAs a clear view of where resources can be allocated most effectively. These leading initiatives underscore the impact of prevention-first care models, which are transforming adult social care with real-time results and measurable outcomes.

Shifting to a culture of prevention: Strengths-based practice

A truly prevention-focused adult social care system requires more than tools—it demands a cultural shift. Strengths-based practice places citizens’ voices and well-being at the centre, focusing on what individuals can achieve independently with the right support. One council has seen a 5% reduction in long-term care needs, highlighting the value of embedding prevention throughout the care journey. From the moment a citizen first contacts a social care team, a focus on prevention creates a system that is resilient and responsive to changing needs.

The role of data in future-proofing social care

Data is critical to building a robust prevention strategy. Imosphere’s toolkit generates a wealth of insights that LAs can use to make informed, proactive decisions, such as identifying where care may be over-prescribed and pinpointing emerging needs among unpaid carers. This data-driven approach allows LAs to deploy resources dynamically, ensuring that preventative measures are targeted where they will have the most impact. By integrating insights from assessments like BISA and other strengths-based tools, Imosphere empowers LAs to build a social care system that is responsive and resilient.

Imosphere: A partner in prevention-first social care

Imosphere is a leading partner for local authorities striving to build a stronger future for adult social care. Our modular, data-driven toolkit is designed to optimise resource allocation, reduce waiting times, and improve outcomes for citizens. By embedding prevention at every stage of the care journey, we help LAs to drive efficiency, enhance quality of life, and create a future-ready system. With self-assessment tools, targeted interventions, and data-driven insights, Imosphere is helping to develop prevention-first strategies that empower independence and improve lives.

Transforming care and improving outcomes

At Imosphere, we are equipping social care providers with tools that connect people to the right care at the right time. By embedding prevention across the entire journey of care, we support local authorities in achieving efficiency, improving outcomes, and building an adult social care system fit for the future.

With the right strategy, tools, and commitment, adult social care can shift from reactive to proactive, focusing on prevention at the front door. Imosphere is proud to be leading this transformation, providing local authorities with the resources and best practices they need to build a better future for adult social care.

Stay tuned for the next installment in our series, where we’ll explore using data to see how the population’s needs and predicted spend evolve over time.