HATCH Local Care Partnership (LCP)

The neighbourhood

HATCH LCP encompasses the neighbourhoods of Chapeltown, Burmantofts, Harehills and Richmond Hill, which together have a vibrant and diverse population of approximately 112,401 people. Each area presents unique demographic characteristics and socioeconomic challenges that shape the community's identity and needs. The LCP works collaboratively with over 250 organisations, including general practices, community health services, public health, adult social care, VCSE organisations, local councils, and community groups. This extensive network allows for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing local needs.

• Chapeltown: With a population of around 9,000, the Chapeltown community is predominantly composed of Black Caribbean, Black African, and South Asian residents, with a notably young demographic profile.
• Burmantofts: With about 25,000 residents, Burmantofts is largely white British, with significant Eastern European and South Asian populations. The area has a mixed age distribution, featuring many young adults and children.
• Harehills: This neighbourhood is home to approximately 30,000 people and is one of the most ethnically diverse areas in Leeds, including large South Asian and Black African communities. It has a predominantly young population, with a high number of children and young adults.
• Richmond Hill: Richmond Hill's population of around 20,000 includes mainly White British residents, alongside growing Eastern European and South Asian communities. The demographic profile is mixed, featuring both young families and older residents.

The context

The primary aim of HATCH LCP is to improve the health and wellbeing of residents living in areas of high deprivation and tackling health inequalities including the wider determinants of health.

The partnership aims to tackle health inequalities by focusing on key priorities including community mental health transformation, domestic violence and abuse, diabetes care, food security and active travel initiatives. Working together with statutory and non-statutory partners, the LCP is uniquely placed to enhance service provision by building strong community relationships and leveraging local assets and strengths.

The model

HATCH LCP engages with the community through a partnership model. Employing a 90-day learning cycle for community mental health transformation and have formed subgroups for domestic violence and abuse and diabetes care.

The work is driven by a community-centric approach, focusing on conversations, connections, and leveraging local assets. Funding comes from various sources, including grants from the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and capacity from local organisations like Hamara to carry out social prescribing work at PCN level.

The partnership involves over 250 local organisations, including third sector groups, general practice, adult social care, public health entities, and community services. The primary beneficiaries are local residents, particularly those facing health inequities and socioeconomic challenges.

HATCH LCP is described as more than just a partnership; it represents a way of doing things. This means being open to working collaboratively, committing to a one-team approach regardless of the employer, and prioritising population needs first. This ethos ensures that the partnership remains adaptable, resilient, and deeply connected to the community it serves.

“HATCH LCP is about bringing communities together and understanding different communities. The strength of our relationships is what we are most proud of.”
Nadia Anderson, Clinical Director

What makes this effective and resilient

The HATCH LCP is led by a diverse executive group that includes representatives from general practice, community health services, public health, adult social care, and VCSE organisations. The community is also actively involved in shaping the priorities and activities of the LCP. This involvement is facilitated through ongoing engagement with local residents and community groups.

Funding often relies on the goodwill of its partners. While sometimes the LCP secures small amounts of funding, it primarily focuses on using existing resources in innovative ways. The work is supported by the LCP development team funded by system partners through a fair share funding agreement. Although the ICB leads the programme, it is a collaborative effort owned by all partners.

The executive group focuses on building relationships to deliver improved services, with priority approaches centred around conversations, connections, assets, and strengths. This structure ensures that the voices and strengths of local people are central to setting priorities and decision-making.

The partnership also invests in the development of its members through induction, training, and mentoring, enhancing their capacity to deliver effective services.

The model leverages strong community relationships and local knowledge, making it adaptive to the specific needs of the population. However, its reliance on local funding and volunteer efforts poses sustainability challenges as this volunteer resource underpins so much of the work HATCH does.

Efforts are ongoing to ensure sustainability through continuous community engagement, securing diverse funding sources, and developing training programmes like the "Train the Trainer" food education initiative which aims to upskill residents.

Examples of effective working: diabetes support in HATCH

Diabetes prevalence in the HATCH area is around 6 per cent, with some areas experiencing rates as high as 8-13 per cent. This includes both diagnosed and undiagnosed cases, with diverse outcomes and needs across the population.

Diabetes care is a significant focus for HATCH LCP, particularly given the higher prevalence rates in black, Asian, and Romanian populations, and areas of high deprivation. The partnership recognises the need for a holistic approach to diabetes care, encompassing prevention, management, and remission.

The partnership aims to support whole-person care, addressing not only the medical aspects of diabetes but also the social, emotional, and environmental factors that affect individuals' health and wellbeing.

The approach includes raising awareness about diabetes risk factors, promoting healthy lifestyles, and ensuring access to appropriate care and support. This involves collaboration with various local organisations, establishing peer support groups, and working alongside healthcare providers.

•Strengths of Partners: Organisations such as Linking Leeds, Bellbrooke Surgery, and Diabetes UK contribute to diabetes care by providing expertise, resources, and support. The partnership leverages these strengths to deliver awareness and holistic support.

What makes this challenging

Challenges include fitting the work into the already busy schedules of professionals and volunteers, securing consistent funding, and ensuring broad representation in decision-making processes. Additionally, maintaining engagement from a wide range of stakeholders, many of them facing significant socioeconomic barriers, remain significant hurdles.

The need for continuous adaptation to changing community needs and the pressure on local organisations to participate in numerous meetings and initiatives also present ongoing challenges. The complexity of coordinating across multiple organisations and ensuring that all relevant sectors are adequately represented can be difficult to manage and ensure all are able to feel properly represented and listened to.

Impact and outcomes

Impact is being measured through the ongoing ICB core20plus5 funding evaluation and the Leeds Health Observatory supports with tracking key data on the population and economy.

Case studies, patient feedback, and community engagement exercises provide qualitative insights into the effectiveness of initiatives. Stories of improved health and wellbeing, stronger community connections, and enhanced service provision illustrate the positive impact of HATCH LCP’s work.

The community mental health transformation the LCP has supported has received extremely positive feedback from residents, with many reports of improved wellbeing.

The active travel initiative has led to increased physical activity and improved access to local amenities. The increased levels of physical activity are particularly encouraging given the LCP’s focus on healthy weight and diabetes.