How do you lead a system through transition without tearing it in two? Adult social care systems are collapsing under complexity; yet transformation often demands a leap many can’t afford. In Essex, we were asked to support a full-scale system rethink without leaving behind the people and processes still holding it together. This project reframed transformation not as rupture, but as coexistence: designing for both the present and the possible. Approach • Co-developed a “dual-track” planning model that allowed teams to deliver care today while testing new relational models for tomorrow • Mapped existing institutional constraints and assets alongside aspirational practices • Facilitated leadership workshops to build confidence in ambiguity, complexity and system stewardship • Worked across commissioners, practitioners and partners to align around shared values and tensions Impact • Introduced a new language for change: one that valued continuity as much as creativity • Increased organisational readiness for long-term cultural transformation • Strengthened inter-team relationships through shared governance experiments • Catalysed parallel pilots that are still evolving toward regenerative care
2020