Transforming Community Care Through Connection
Project Name: Community SWITCH (Supporting Wellbeing, Improving the Community’s Health)
Client: Crane Valley Primary Care Network (PCN)
OMNIsector Role: Lead Consultancy, Project Management, Digital Architecture, and Ongoing Support
“We didn’t just build a directory; we built a connected network of support that works together for the whole community.”
— Andy Saunders, Managing Director, OMNIsector
The Challenge: Breaking Down Silos to Support High-Frequency Attendees
Healthcare challenges rarely exist in isolation. Crane Valley PCN recognised that many frequent clinic attendees were presenting with underlying social and health challenges—such as loneliness, stress, or navigating neurodivergence—that typical clinical GP interventions aren’t designed to solve.
The support existed within the community, but it was siloed across the NHS, local authorities, and the voluntary sector. Crane Valley PCN needed a way to dissolve these organisational barriers and unlock the true potential of in-community care. They commissioned OMNIsector to help them bridge the gap.
The Solution: An Innovative, Integrated Ecosystem
Managing Director Andy Saunders led the project, guiding the project team in designing, developing, and implementing Community SWITCH.
We moved away from a top-down approach to healthcare by listening directly to patients. We brought Patient Participation Group (PPG) representatives together with the PCN’s social prescribers and care coordinators to develop the programme of resources, identify community partners, and design patient communications. This collaboration ensures that local people can easily find practical support, access community services, and stay active and connected.
Key Pillars of the OMNIsector Strategy
- Co-Design & Peer Review: We collaborated directly with Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) and patient representatives to co-create and peer-review a comprehensive resource directory, ensuring all support is high-quality, trustworthy, and easy to navigate.
- The “I Need / I Feel” Pathways: Moving away from rigid medical jargon, we mapped community services to 14 specific, intuitive pathways (ranging from mental health support to managing long-term conditions). This empowers patients to take an active, intuitive role in managing their own health.
- A Neutral, Shared Identity: To ensure true inclusion and remove institutional friction, we established SWITCH under a neutral, shared brand identity. This allows partners from the NHS, local councils, and grassroots charities to unite equally under one banner.
The Digital Gateway: Built and Managed by OMNIsector
A visionary concept requires a robust digital home. OMNIsector designed, built, and continues to manage the digital platform powering this initiative:
Our custom-built digital gateway features:
- A Patient-Facing Portal: An accessible, patient-co-designed interface to find the right help at the right time.
- A Structured Partner Portal: A secure space facilitating genuine partnership working. It allows the 100+ network partners to share resources, access capacity-building materials, and utilise OMNIsector-designed tools and templates for funding bids.
Impact & Ongoing Commitment
Community SWITCH has successfully moved beyond a static “list of services” to become a living, breathing network that delivers the right care, right when it is needed.
OMNIsector’s commitment didn’t end at launch. We continue to provide ongoing management, technical support, and strategic guidance for the SWITCH platform, ensuring it evolves alongside the needs of the Crane Valley population and its dedicated partner network.
Partner With Us
Do you want to unlock the potential of community-led health support in your network? OMNIsector specialises in breaking down silos, designing user-centric digital solutions, and bringing complex, multi-sector partnerships to life.