大象传媒

Knowing the neighbourhood: local knowledge, personalised support

In one of our newly-published Practical approaches toolkits, Be Caring shares their neighbourhood approach. We take a look at what this means.

Delivering truly person-centred care starts with understanding the communities we serve. At Be Caring, the UK’s largest employee-owned domiciliary care provider, their neighbourhood-based model is central to how care is delivered - ensuring carers work locally, build strong relationships, and provide support that reflects the lives of the people they care for.

By organising services around small, well-defined geographic areas, Be Caring enables carers to operate within local communities. This proximity reduces travel time, improves wellbeing, and makes roles accessible to non-drivers.

Working locally allows carers to build trust and continuity with clients. Familiarity with the neighbourhood means carers understand routines, preferences, and cultural context, making care more personal and responsive.

This model also supports community integration. Carers become familiar faces, collaborating with families, neighbours, and professionals like district nurses and GPs. These informal networks strengthen support and create a joined-up approach to care.

Carers report feeling proud to work in their own communities, where they can see the impact of their support. Routes are designed to be walkable and manageable, with travel time built into rotas. Scheduling teams adapt routes to suit carers’ changing circumstances, ensuring sustainability and responsiveness.

Recruitment is shaped by the neighbourhood model. Be Caring partners with local colleges, job centres, and community organisations to attract candidates from the areas where services are delivered. Screening questions help ensure applicants live nearby, supporting locally rooted teams and reducing commute times.

Digital inclusion remains central to the model. Carers are trained to help clients confidently access technology, supporting independence and connection - especially when physical attendance isn’t possible. Alongside this, Be Caring’s digital systems play a crucial enabling role. Smart scheduling and care鈥憆ecord apps give teams full visibility of each person’s support, ensuring carers are placed within their own localities. This reduces unnecessary travel, increases meaningful contact time, and strengthens value for money across the service.

The approach is more than a logistical strategy - it’s a commitment to relationship鈥憀ed care. By embedding carers in the communities they know, the organisation builds trust, continuity, and more personalised support. The approach also improves staff experience: reduced travel demands lead to better retention, and stable teams mean clients benefit from the consistent relationships that underpin high-quality care.

Recommendations for adult social care providers

• Invest in a system that helps you implement a neighbourhood approach.
• Design care routes around local communities to reduce travel, improve continuity, and support wellbeing.
• Recruit locally and build community partnerships to attract candidates who understand the area and its people.
• Empower carers with local knowledge to deliver personalised care and strengthen relationships with clients and professionals.

Read more about Be Caring’s successful model in 大象传媒’s new Practical approach toolkit: Neighbourhood-based block-pay.

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