1. Asset/Strength Based Work with People & Communities
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Mick Ward Chief Officer, Commissioning Adult Social Care Leeds City Council September 2016

2. What do we mean by asset based approaches? …………………………………………………………….
'You can't know what a person or a community needs, until they first know what they have.‘
John McKnight, Co-Director, ABCD Institute

3. Try it for yourself –Exercise …………………………………………………………
My Street

4. Theory behind asset based approaches
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The deficit approach
The asset and strengths based approach
Starts with deficiencies and needs in the community
Start with the assets in the community
Start with the person’s gifts and strengths
Respond to problems
Identify opportunities and strengths through conversations
Provider services to users
Invest in people as citizens
Emphasise the role of agencies
Emphasise the role of civil society sand emphasise the individual’s role and contribution
Focus on individuals
Focus on communities/ neighbourhoods and the common good, and focus on the person's place
See people as clients and consumers receiving services
See people as citizens and co-producers with something to offer
Treat people as passive and done-to
Help people to take control of their lives
‘Fix people’
Support people to develop their potential
Implement programmes as the answer
See people as the answer

5. ABCD Key building blocks: Community Builders
Case study – Asset Based Community Development …………………………………………………………………..
ABCD Key building blocks:
Community Builders
Finding Community Connectors
Mapping assets (Inc. people’s gifts)
Small sparks funding

6. Senior Network Support project
Case study – Asset Based Community Development …………………………………………………………………..
Senior Network Support project

7. Case study - Migrant Access Project
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8. A New Customer Pathway …………………………………………………………
Changing the conversation – new language and change of expectation.
Shared problem solving and solutions that build on strengths.
Building on the Neighbourhood Teams model – social workers embedded in local communities.
‘Talking Points’
Working with health partners on New Models of Care – resilience, self care, appropriate support.

9. Three Conversations …………………………………………………………
‘How can I connect you to things that will help you get on with your life - based on assets, strengths and those of your family and neighbourhood? What do you want to do? What can I connect you to?’
When people are at risk – ‘What needs to change to make you safe? How do I help to make that happen? What offers do I have at my disposal, including small amounts of money and using my knowledge of community, to support you? How can I pull them together in an emergency plan and stay with you to make sure it works?’
‘What is a fair personal budget and where do the sources of funding come from? What does a good life look like? How can I help you use your resources to support your chosen life? Who do you want to be involved in good support planning

10. Broader things to think about …………………………………………………………
It requires having a different conversation
It’s about facilitating and enabling rather than doing/providing the solution
Not to overfund – but some things may need some ‘small sparks’ funding
Recognise it’s a relational activity (not a project or procurement approach)

11. Resources …………………………………………………………
Asset Based Community Development
IDeA – A glass half-full: how an asset based approach can improve community health and wellbeing
The Health Foundation – Head, hands and heart: asset-based approaches in health care

12. Resources …………………………………………………………
Health Foundation/Nesta– At the heart of health: Realising the value of people and communities
NEF – Five Ways to Wellbeing
Public Health England – A guide to community-centred approaches for health and wellbeing
Think Local Act Personal – Top tips: Commissioning for market diversity

13. ……………………………………………………………………………………
Asset Based Community Development
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Cormac Russell,
Nurture Development
TED Talk