Care England, the largest representative body of independent adult social care providers, has today submitted its response to the NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) consultation on integrated care systems.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:

“Adult social care is essential to the fabric of society, this has been seen in technicolour over the incredibly difficult past months so it is disappointing that NHSEI has failed to recognise the strategic relationship between health and social care providers in its future planning for integrated care”.

On 26 November 2020, NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) published Integrating care: Next steps to building strong and effective integrated care systems which sets out the policy proposals for the future of integrated care systems (ICSs) in England, as well as outlining two proposals for how ICSs are to become legislation by April 2022, subject to governmental approval. NHSEI were consulting on two possible options for enshrining ICSs in legislation.

Whilst Care England supports the direction of the policy as it emphasises the need for a greater degree of collaboration and integration across the health and social care system, this integration must include a place for independent adult social care sector providers. These providers form the foundations of good community care services and care for some of society’s most vulnerable.

Martin Green continues:

“As such an important part of the jigsaw, adult social care should not be fighting its case, rather NHS England should be focusing on a vision for the future incorporating a workforce plan and fairer funding to providers including Continuing Healthcare”.