Change that leads to better lives

Case Studies and Testimonials

We receive a lot of positive feedback from the people we work with. Below is a selection of comments we have received.

Community Led Support, Shrewsbury

"I always feel lifted and recharged after any involvement with NDTi and your comments and thoughts always help to put things back into focus”

Community Led Support, Scotland
“East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership has a 10 year integration journey, a history of partnership in different forms, and a size that makes innovative ideas possible but increasingly challenging to deliver. Our vision, “working together with the people of East Renfrewshire to improve lives” supported by touchstones- valuing what matters to people; building reliance with people and communities; focussing on outcomes not services -is set within the context of the principles of Self-directed Support, Integration and Christie. The complexities of self-directed support implementation encouraged us to look again at how we modelled collaboration, co-production and the other statutory principles of partnership. Through our SDS care home pilot entitled My Life My Way, and our Safe & Supported (Delayed discharge) programme designed in partnership with individuals, carers, 3rd sector and our own staff, we benefited from the wealth of expertise our public and partners bring. Community Led Support programme is the vehicle to bring all of this together to face future challenges with optimism.” June Findlater - Rehabil itation and Enablement Services Manager, Health and Community Care, East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

“In 2016 Audit Scotland have clearly reiterated the message of Christie – ‘More of the same won’t do’. They have also made it clear that the solution lies in working with communities and their existing assets. Community Led Support brings together the key building blocks of Social Care in a way that starts from the original ethos of social care set out in legislation in 1968. In returning to basic principles and working with communities very much in their lives now, great things can and have been achieved. People and communities of people are able to exercise choice and control and to live lives that are much closer to those that they would wish for.” Des McCart, Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

“In the South Ayrshire Health and Care Partnership it is recognised that we need to place the ‘What matters to you?’ conversation at the heart of our programme for change. Community Led Support offers a well structured and facilitated approach that seeks to embody this ambition throughout all services, settings and professions and to ensure that new ‘front doors’ for social work and health begin with this strength based conversation. Community Led Support will enable the HSCP to work with local people and communities, service users and carers, staff from health and social care, third and independent sectors to ‘co-produce’ local, proportionate, timely and bespoke approaches to support positive outcomes for people.” Phil White - Partnership Facilitator, South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

Rural Wisdom
“The Rural Wisdom project will ensure that older people in both Scotland and Wales will have their voices heard about things which matter most to them. It is a great example of how National Lottery funding can make a real difference to people’s lives and specifically the lives of older people living in rural communities. We were very impressed with the partnership approach embedded in this application and how this will also help inform learning from the project. I am sure that it will bring many benefits to those involved, including boosting confidence and skills and empowering older people to participate in and shape activities within their local areas.” Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn.

“We are very pleased to receive this grant form the Big Lottery Fund and to be part of their programme to take forward the ways our society includes and supports older people. We are looking forward to working alongside older people, our partners and other people across the UK who want to create more opportunities for older people to be part of shaping our communities.” Pat Scrutton, Chair of Outside the Box.


Partnership with the Oxfordshire Family Support Network
“We have already benefitted from the Care and Treatment Review training offered by NDTi and their support, expertise and knowledge when working to improve support to families who have relatives in Assessment and Treatment Units. We are passionate about inclusion of people with learning disabilities. We therefore feel honoured to be invited to have a partnership agreement with NDTi who have done so much ground-breaking work with people with learning disabilities and their families.” A spokesperson from OxFSN.


Partnership with My Life My Choice
“We think that NDTi do really good work. We have similar aims and values and think we can achieve great things together. I love working with them because I think they’re really friendly and they understand why self-advocacy is so important. It’s nice to meet other groups and hear about what they’re doing, so we can learn from each other. We’re really excited about working more with them.”Pam Bebbington, co-chair at My Life My Choice.


SEND Reform Leadership Programme evaluation: Final report, April 2016
“This was such an excellent opportunity for me and I have learnt so much… I feel very privileged to be part of this programme and I’m looking forward to putting my learning into practice. I hope others have an opportunity to be part of this programme in the future.”

“I reflected on the learning about visionary leadership and went back to the authority and started work on co-producing a preparation for adulthood vision and strategy as a way to bring about positive change across the city.”

“It’s definitely had an impact on the way I do things, especially the stuff about the way you lead - I’ve found myself approaching things differently, it makes me pause and reflect on how to move things forward.”


Circles of Support
“[The volunteer Circle member] was special – plenty of experience. She helped A, and she helped me; she helped me understand A’s behaviour – she said “that’s not A, that’s just the dementia” – it’s been a long journey for me to understand.”

“I think differently about how I support people – now I think about wider networks.” (Dementia Support Worker)

“The Circle of Support joined up the dots for us. … [it] kept my dad at the centre, never forgetting that he is a person with feelings and needs like any of us rather than just a patient. Thanks to Circles of Support, my dad attends a walking club, singing for the brain and has met new friends – and all this gives my mum a much needed break.”


New approaches to planning care – Empowering families in Suffolk (August 2013)
“We have been continually inspired and moved by the impact the Better Lives programme is having on the people involved. It has really demonstrated the value of working with parents on an equal footing and investing in young people and their families so that personalisation make a real difference to their lives. If practitioners still needed some convincing about the outcomes that can be achieved, then this is clear evidence of our approach being absolutely on the right track." Councillor Alan Murray, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Care.

“I’ve learnt about behavior being communication, about advocacy, about understanding my daughter’s disability. I really understand the place I’m in as a parent but more importantly the place my daughter is in as a member of a social minority. I learnt to be inventive, creative, resourceful and positive. I now have the confidence and language to co-operate alongside practitioners – it’s no longer us and them, all the tension has gone.” Sarah Pritchard-Barrett.

“I have found that there are many things out there and with the right support my daughter can live life to the full. One day she will be able to live with her friends in supported living, not be at home we us as we grow old.” Julie McCarty.

Our work with Children and Young People
"NDTi has supported us in a transformational shift of mind set. We start with the insight of desired outcomes for our children and young people through coproduction which allows us to plan effectively and improve delivery." Patricia Walker, LDD Strategy and Commissioning Manager, Services for Young People, Hertfordshire County Council.


Our work on Mental Health
"[NDTi] helped us understand our position quickly and accurately and enabled us to see what practical things we should do next.” Local Authority Mental Health Commissioner.


Our work on Ageing and Older People
"NDTi inspired us to take a fresh approach to how we view older people with high support needs. Now we’re putting their views at the centre of our commissioning strategy." Ruth Dixon, Deputy Director (Commissioning and Care), Hampshire County Council Adult Services.

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