News

New guide helps systems get started with integrated working

Tips and insight to help system leaders think through the practicalities of integrated working.

24 October 2022

NHS Employers, which is part of the NHS Confederation, has launched a new guide to help employers in health connect across all parts of the system to deliver personal, person-centred care to their local populations, now and in the future.  

Integrated care systems (ICSs) are working to develop a workforce that integrates and connects across all parts of the system.

To help systems understand this new way of working, NHS Employers has worked in partnership with Skills for Care and the Care and Health Improvement Programme, which is a collaboration between the Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, to produce a new guide to help systems consider what is needed to successfully integrate their workforce thinking.  

This guide is aimed at ICS workforce leads, chief people officers, directors of adult social services (ASC), chief executives, human resource directors, elected members including ASC portfolio holders and chairs of health and wellbeing boards, and those who are responsible for integrated workforce thinking across health and social care.   

This guide will help systems to:  

  • understand what is meant by integrated thinking across systems and how it can support the development of integrated workforce plans 
  • understand what data is helpful in informing a good integrated workforce plan 
  • learn from examples and tips from ICSs that have had success with integrating across their systems
  • find external resources on integrated workforce planning.  

We understand that every ICS will be at a different stage in their journey towards integration. The guide has been produced to support you in whatever stage you have reached.  

Access the guide in full to get started.