Cheshire and Merseyside: Leading the way in partnership working

Health and care services in Cheshire and Merseyside are delivering real results by working together across the system.

Sefton Council recently marked a major achievement as Ofsted rated its children’s services Good while the Warrington Together partnership was nominated for Integrated Care Initiative of the Year at the HSJ Awards for its Living Well in Warrington programme.

Cathy Elliott, Chief Executive of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said: “Partnership working across Cheshire and Merseyside is helping us achieve real change for local people. By focusing on prevention, tackling inequalities, and designing care around communities, we are creating a system that is more effective, resilient and sustainable for the future. 

“This approach benefits everyone by helping people to stay well, live independently and thrive, while ensuring fair opportunities to health and wellbeing support no matter where people live.”

The recently published 10-Year Health Plan for England calls for closer integration between the NHS, local government, and other public services – an approach already well underway in Cheshire and Merseyside; from children’s safeguarding in Sefton to neighbourhood-based care in Warrington.

Partnerships strengthening safeguarding in Sefton

Sefton Council has achieved a remarkable milestone, with Ofsted awarding its children’s services an overall rating of Good. Inspectors highlighted “tangible improvements across all areas in Children’s Social Care” including children in care, care leavers, and strong visible leadership and commitment from all areas of the Council, noting that “children are now a clear priority for the wider council.”

The inspection commended the council’s leadership, workforce stability, and commitment to improving outcomes for children and families. Ofsted highlighted significant progress in safeguarding, care planning, and support for care-experienced young people – a remarkable turnaround from the previous Inadequate rating in 2022. This achievement demonstrates the tangible benefits of multi-agency partnership working.

“Our improvement journey over the last three years has not been without its tricky obstacles,” said Dr Risthardh Hare, Executive Director of Children’s Services at Sefton Council.

“However, in Sefton we approach our work with families in collaboration as we recognise that the problems which families face cannot be addressed through an individual service approach. We have made a critical first step to delivering a service which children and their families can be proud of but this was only possible through the strong partnership working we now have in place.”

Deborah Butcher, Place Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside in Sefton, paid tribute to partnership working in Sefton.

She said: “I am extremely proud of the quality team in Sefton. Kerrie France has provided great leadership at local level, working closely with our Executive Director of Children’s Services and Police lead to ensure that safeguarding and access to good healthcare for our children and young people remains a priority across the partnership. 

“We would also like to say a huge well done to Dr Risthardh Hare and his team for this fantastic result, while recognising that continuous improvement will be essential to maintain and build on these high standards.”

Working together to put people first in Warrington 

In Warrington, partners are working together to provide healthcare in new ways that are convenient and easily accessible in neighbourhoods – another key element of the 10 Year Health Plan for England.

Warrington’s Living Well programme, which focuses on connecting people, communities and services to enable residents to live healthy, fulfilling lives and take greater control over their own health and wellbeing has been shortlisted in the Integrated Care Initiative of the Year category at the HSJ Awards.

The shortlisting highlighted the exceptional work and dedication undertaken to help improve access to services, prevent ill health and address health inequalities in Warrington, where there is a 10-year difference in life expectancy between the most and least deprived members of the community.

The borough-wide programme supports the town’s health needs thanks to partnership working between NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Warrington Borough Council, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and a range of public sector organisations and local voluntary sector partners.

At the heart of the programme – and the town – is the Living Well Hub, which offers accessible healthcare services and support from a range of partners under one roof. Designed to support residents in an easy to reach location, the hub is helping to prevent ill health, address inequalities and help regeneration of the town centre.

Since opening its doors in early 2024, the Living Well Hub has seen more than 27,500 visitors access advice, guidance and support from more than 25 different clinical and non-clinical services with pre-booked and drop-in appointments.

Cllr Hans Mundry, Leader of Warrington Borough Council said that the Living Well programme demonstrates “that by working together, we can get the best results for our residents”.

He added: “Through the co-location of services – both in person and online – we have opportunities to work more closely together, to play to each other’s strengths, and to put our people first. 

“Living Well is about putting our people at the centre, creating networks of support, and fundamentally empowering people to support their own health and wellbeing.”

Amanda Ridge, Associate Director of Transformation and Partnerships for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside in Warrington, said: “The Living Well programme in Warrington demonstrates the real impact of partnership working and is a great example of how working as one system delivers better outcomes for local people. 

“By bringing together NHS organisations, the council, and voluntary sector partners, we are tackling health inequalities, improving access to support, and helping the people of Warrington live longer, healthier lives.”