The framework helps integrated care systems to improve how they tackle health inequalities and develop practical actions through engagement.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), in partnership with National Voices and the Point of Care Foundation, has developed a self-assessment and improvement framework.
The aim of the framework is to support integrated care systems (ICSs) to improve how they tackle health inequalities through conversation, as well as gather insight and develop practical actions through engagement linked to people and community strategies.
The project was supported by funding from the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund (RPF) – a grant-based fund to enable UK regulators and local authorities to help create a regulatory environment that encourages business innovation and investment.
“From start to finish, the development of this framework has been collaborative, underpinned by the voices of people with lived experience as well as feedback from stakeholders and the four ICSs that participated in the testing phase,” said Chris Day, director of engagement at CQC.
A flexible tool
The framework was developed to provide a flexible tool to help ICSs work more effectively with people and communities, focusing on those who experience the greatest health inequalities. By offering a structured approach, the framework aims to empower ICSs to improve health outcomes and create fairer, more inclusive systems of care.
Following its initial development, four ICS pilot sites carried out testing to ensure that ICSs can apply the framework in a practical and meaningful way. This collaborative process shaped the framework into a resource that supports systems in reflecting, learning, and planning tangible actions to address inequalities.
The framework, along with a range of supporting resources including case study videos from the ICSs who undertook testing of the framework, is now available to all ICSs to consider and implement across their health and social care services. It focuses on those people and communities that are affected by health inequalities and identified in the CORE20PLUS5 approach.
Following the launch of the framework, CQC has said that it will continue to engage closely with ICSs, as they embed engagement practices and monitor progress in reducing health inequalities.
