Integrated care systems are still relatively new, and although a big step in connecting a range of different care and healthcare services, they can still be difficult to navigate.
In this blog, we break down what an integrated care system is and share some tips to help care and healthcare providers to better align with other organisations.
What is an Integrated Care System?
Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) are collaborative partnerships that bring together organisations across health and social care to improve outcomes for local populations. While ICSs have existed in some form since 2016, they were formally established as statutory bodies in 2022 following the enactment of the Health and Care Act 2022.
More joined up care solutions played a pivotal role during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their importance was cemented through the reforms introduced in the new legislation. Today, there are 42 ICSs across England, each serving a distinct geographical area.
At the heart of each ICS are two key components:
- The Integrated Care Board (ICB) is responsible for planning and funding NHS services within the ICS area. It holds the budget and ensures that services are commissioned in line with national standards and local needs.
- The Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) is a statutory committee that brings together a wide range of system stakeholders, including local authorities, NHS bodies, and representatives from the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. The ICP’s role is to collaboratively develop a comprehensive health and care strategy tailored to the needs of the local population.
While the ICB primarily oversees the funding and commissioning of services, the ICP focuses on strategic planning and partnership performance, ensuring services are aligned, integrated, and working towards shared outcomes.
The Four Core Aims of ICSs
Integrated Care Systems operate under four central aims:
- Improving outcomes in population health and health care
- Tackling inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access
- Enhancing productivity and value for money across the health system
- Supporting broader social and economic development, helping the NHS contribute more holistically to local communities
What are the benefits of an Integrated Care System?
- Helps to tackle the more complex health needs that are more prevalent due to more people living longer. Integrated care systems help tackle this by providing specialised care across different touchpoints.
- Decision-making is more community-focused as they are best placed to know the needs of the people they serve. Each ICS is unofficially broken down into three tiers: neighbourhoods, places, and systems, to help deliver more targeted and relevant services.
- Action can be taken sooner as collective resources can be leveraged so patients can receive care as quickly as possible. More transparent information sharing across services can help join the dots on symptoms and spot prevantable conditions.
- Focus on system-wide objectives, not just the priorities of individual organisations, makes it easier to deliver real, long-term differences in communities.
How Can Care Providers Operate Effectively in an Integrated Care System?
Despite the wide range of benefits that a more integrated care system will bring, we don’t want to overlook the immense pressure that a lot of care providers are currently under.
With limited resources, staffing challenges, and rising demand, fully embracing change can feel overwhelming.
Even when implemented efficiently, integrated working is a long-term effort, and the tangible benefits of a more unified care model may take time to fully emerge.
Below we share three practical steps that care providers can take today to support the ongoing transition towards more collaborative, joined-up care.
1. Foster Strong Relationships with ICS Stakeholders
To operate effectively in an integrated care system, care providers must build strong collaborative relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders. These include NHS trusts, local authorities, primary care networks, and VCSE organisations.
Active engagement in ICS-level meetings, working groups, or place-based partnerships allows providers to share insights, align on care priorities, and contribute to joint decision-making.
Establishing open communication and mutual goals can lead to better service integration and a more seamless experience for the individuals receiving care. Providers who are visible and proactive within their integrated care systems are more likely to shape outcomes and access opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and growth.
2. Align Services with Integrated Care Strategies and ICP Priorities
Every Integrated Care System is guided by a health and care strategy set by the ICP – a statutory committee made up of local government, NHS organisations, and VCSE sector leaders. Care providers should ensure their services are aligned with these strategies, which often focus on prevention, early intervention, reducing health inequalities, and improving outcomes across the population.
Understanding your local ICP’s goals and adapting your service model to complement those priorities can help position your organisation as a key contributor to system-wide success. Highlight how your services deliver value in areas such as population health, efficiency, or reducing hospital admissions. Alignment also improves your visibility when ICSs make commissioning or funding decisions.
3. Adopt Digital Tools and Incident Reporting to Support Integrated Care
Digital transformation plays a pivotal role in the success of integrated care systems. Care providers must invest in secure, interoperable digital tools that support real-time data sharing, document upload, and integrated reporting. One critical area is digital incident reporting, which enables providers to log, track, and resolve incidents efficiently while maintaining transparency across the system.
Replacing paper-based processes with a digital incident management system improves accountability, helps identify patterns and risks, and ensures timely responses across different parts of the care pathway. Beyond incident reporting, digital tools also support care planning, remote monitoring, and performance analysis – key capabilities that enhance a provider’s ability to participate effectively in integrated care.
Ensuring your staff are trained and confident in using digital systems is just as important. This not only drives adoption but also empowers teams to contribute meaningfully to shared care goals across the ICS.
How Vatix Can Help
Vatix’s digital event reporting tool makes it easy to share key data with other stakeholders – allowing you to customise and download reports from your dashboard in just a few clicks.
Healthcare professionals can report incidents whilst on the go via desktop, mobile, or QR code so that there’s less chance of forgetting important details.
Our healthcare platform also includes audits and inspections so your team can create and share checklists to ensure standardisation of processes and compliance with regulations.
Get in touch today to find out how out we can help make connected care simpler for your organisation.
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