The early Spring 2026 edition of HomeFirst Highlights is now available, sharing progress and learning from HomeFirst Phase 2 and the work underway to transform intermediate care, prevention and neighbourhood-based support across Leeds.
This edition provides an overview of HomeFirst Phase 2 for those new to the programme, alongside updates on Neighbourhood Proactive Care, the Prevention Diagnostic, and an in-depth focus on intermediate care.
What is HomeFirst Phase 2?
HomeFirst Phase 2 builds on the original HomeFirst programme, continuing the shift towards supporting people:
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Closer to home
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With fewer unnecessary hospital stays
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Through stronger partnership working across health, care and community services
The programme brings together NHS, local authority and wider partners through a #TeamLeeds approach.
Key objectives include:
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Strengthening intermediate care so people spend less time away from their own bed
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Developing neighbourhood proactive care for people most at risk, particularly those living with frailty and long-term conditions
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Embedding prevention to help people maintain independence and reduce avoidable demand on services
Neighbourhood Proactive Care
The update highlights progress in rolling out Neighbourhood Proactive Care (NPC) across Leeds. This approach brings health, care and community professionals together in connected neighbourhood teams, focusing on:
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Early identification
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Personalised support
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Better coordination of care
Most Primary Care Networks and Local Care Partnerships are on track to be proactively managing populations, with full coverage expected by March 2026. The edition also shares emerging work on Technology Enabled Care, including the rollout of MiiCare across several neighbourhoods.
Read more about MiiCare – Adult Social Care and MiiCare remote monitoring privacy notice
Prevention Diagnostic
The Spring edition includes updates on both:
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The Adults and Prevention Diagnostic, focused on proactive prevention and demand management
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The Neighbourhood Prevention Diagnostic, looking across health and care to identify opportunities to prevent escalating need
This work is informing new prevention activity, including falls prevention, carer support and pathways to reablement, as well as shaping future neighbourhood-based approaches.
In focus: Intermediate Care
A major feature of this edition is a detailed look at intermediate care within HomeFirst Phase 2.
It covers:
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The seven workstreams that make up the 2025–2026 intermediate care workplan
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Progress made so far and remaining challenges
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Governance arrangements and system leadership
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Plans and ambitions for 2026–2027 and beyond
The edition also includes reflections from the Intermediate Care Programme Team, examples of service improvement, and early learning from staff and people receiving support.
Read the full edition
HomeFirst Highlights provides regular updates on progress, milestones and learning across the programme.
Read the HomeFirst Highlights – early Spring 2026 edition
For more information about HomeFirst Phase 2, including programme contacts and future updates, visit the Leeds HomeFirst pages hosted by the Leeds Health and Care Partnership.
