Minister of State for Social Care (): Shared outcomes in health
and care are a powerful tool for driving integration in
Integrated Care Systems. As shared priorities, they bring
organisations together to deliver on a common purpose for the
people they serve. This is why shared outcomes were an important
part of our integration white paper (IWP), Joining up Care
for People, Places and Populations, which outlined
opportunities to progress further on the integration of health
and social care.
Since the IWP was published, we have seen good progress in places
developing local shared outcomes focused on addressing the needs
of their populations and with a focus on health improvement. We
have heard a consistent message from stakeholders that place
leaders should have autonomy to select local outcomes that are
appropriate to the needs of their populations, whilst also
complementing national priorities. Our approach to supporting the
development of shared outcomes reflects this feedback.
I am therefore pleased to update the House that we have published
the shared outcomes toolkit.
Just as the Government has provided the NHS with a more focussed
set of priorities in the mandate published in 2023, we are
supporting places through this toolkit to develop local outcomes
and priorities that are as impactful as possible for local
people. The publication of the shared outcomes toolkit also meets
recommendations made in the Hewitt Review and the Health and
Social Care Select Committee hearing report into integrated care
systems (ICSs), both of which recommended that Government publish
the shared outcomes framework as soon as possible.
This toolkit shares the learning from places that are further on
in their development of shared outcomes, and includes case
studies, examples of good practice, and suggestions for
overcoming challenges. It is designed to be a resource to support
places in developing shared outcomes, and recognising that places
will be at different levels of maturity.
With the support this toolkit offers, we expect all places in
each ICS will be able to evidence the work they are doing towards
developing shared outcomes by March 2024. Going forward, shared
outcomes are referenced as evidence in the Care Quality
Commission (CQC) single assessment framework and this evidence
may be considered as part of the CQC ICS reviews and assessments.
As places progress with their outcomes frameworks we will
consider how the balance between nationally mandated and locally
driven priorities is working in practice and review the
commonalities that may inform the development of national shared
outcomes.
The shared outcomes toolkit is available on the GOV.UK website,
and copies have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
