Integrated Care Systems (ICS)

Let's Talk: Integrated Care Systems

The challenge for NHS Organisations

The NHS Long Term Plan specified that, by April 2021, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) will cover every part of England, bringing together local organisations to redesign care and improve the health of residents.

The NHS Operational Planning and Contracting Guidance 2020/21 subsequently set out NHSE/I expectations for system transformation and performance.

As providers and commissioners of health and care services develop their system-wide transformational roadmaps - against a backdrop of a global pandemic - no partner is better placed to provide the support and expertise needed than NHS Shared Business Services.
 

"Within health and care systems all finance contracts for functional software/IT systems and financial services should be reviewed to align with other regional providers to ensure: interoperability; standardisation of services; and the better use of technology.

"Transactional processes should be reviewed for automation opportunities."

Operational Planning and Contracting Guidance
NHSE/I January 2020

"NHS organisations should review payroll contracts and arrangements to ensure at every opportunity they are looking to increase collaboration, improve workforce and service resilience. 

"This will improve quality, reduce cost and eliminate risks."

Operational Planning and Contracting Guidance
NHSE/I January 2020

Why us?

As a joint venture between the Department of Health and Social Care and European digital transformation leader Sopra Steria, we were set up with the sole objective of providing high-quality, cost-effective, non-clinical services to the NHS.

Today, we're uniquely positioned to support ICS development.

Our experts have in-depth experience managing complex change programmes, which require multiple organisations to work together to design sustainable services that deliver real change. And our proven shared corporate services are - by definition - ready-made to support the required system-wide efficiencies, governance and digitisation.

We already provide a mix of Finance, Procurement, Workforce and Innovation services to more than 260 NHS organisations - around two thirds of NHS commissioners and trusts across England.

Specialists in change management, we've migrated more than 400 organisations - including former Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) - from legacy systems to our platform infrastructure, and have more than 15 years' experience developing and delivering shared solutions, digital transformation and meaningful insights.

As the only organisation providing a complete end-to-end corporate service solution for the NHS, we provide high-quality and low cost transactional services, interoperable modular products, and expert consultancy to address specific challenges.

It means we have unrivalled ability to support new systems through both planning and delivery stages, providing solutions that meet each system's unique needs and are delivered by our expert teams using the latest technologies.

What we deliver

NHS Shared Business Services

Shared solutions, not just shared services