Skills for Care is supporting social care teams with #UnderstandingIntegration
Skills for Care is supporting adult social care teams with understanding integration.
We're running our #UnderstandingIntegration campaign throughout May which will explore what integration in health and social care means; what an Integrated Care System (ICS) is; the benefits of integration for the social care sector and people who draw on care and support, and how social care workers can get involved with their ICS.
The campaign will run across our website, social media and other communications channels and will include resources to help with understanding integration, expert insights on what integration in social care means, and real life case studies of integration activity which is already underway in different regions across England.
You can follow the campaign and join in on discussions on social media using #UnderstandingIntegration.
Integration between health and social care has been widely discussed for many years. The passing of the Health and Care Act 2022 in April last year and the establishment of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) in July 2022 have been key in moving the process forward.
The recent publication of the Hewitt Review has also brought discussions to the forefront.
Oonagh Smyth, CEO of Skills for Care says:
The publication of the Hewitt Review - the latest review into Integrated Care Systems - opens a welcome and critical window of opportunity to ensure that integrated care really is about people only having to tell their story once to get the high-quality care and support that means they can live the lives they want.
Engaging effectively with the full diversity of the adult social care voice, including the 1.5 million people who work in care roles, has to be the foundation for delivering person-centred transformational change within Integrated Care Systems. We know through our engagement with the majority of Integrated Care Systems that integrated working is built on trust and relationships as much as structures. As highlighted in the report the success of Integrated Care Systems will depend on a shift in culture, partnerships, and behaviours at all levels.
This is an exciting and critical time in the development of how social care operates and we are proud to be able to provide support to adult social care providers to ensure they have access to information which clearly explains what integration means for them, what Integrated Care Systems are and how they can get involved in shaping this work.
More information on the campaign and how to get involved can be found on our #UnderstandingIntegration webpage.
Follow the campaign on social media using #UnderstandingIntegration
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