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Commissioners

Find out about the services we provide to commissioners and best practice for data controllers.

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Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Integrated Care Board (ICBs) are partnerships that bring together providers and commissioners of NHS services across a geographical area with local authorities and other local partners to collectively plan health and care services to meet the needs of their population. The central aim of the ICB is to integrate care across different organisations and settings, joining up hospital and community-based services, physical and mental health, and health and social care. All parts of England are now covered by one of 42 ICBs.

The new Health and Social Care Bill will allow for the establishment of Integrated Care Boards and Integrated Care Partnerships across England. This will be done at the same time as abolishing Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). The ICB will take on the NHS commissioning functions of CCGs as well as some of NHS England’s commissioning functions. It will also be accountable for NHS spend and performance within the system. The Board of the ICB will, as a minimum, include a chair, the CEO and representatives from NHS providers, general practice and local authorities.

In order to assure a smooth transition to the new commissioning landscape, the ICB need to be able to share data with providers and local authorities within their ICS so they are fully able to contribute to commissioning decisions.

Integrated Care System (ICS)

An integrated care system (or ICS) is a partnership of organisations that come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services, and to improve the lives of people who live and work in their area.

Following several years of locally-led development, recommendations of NHS England and Royal Assent of the Health and Care Act (2022), 42 ICSs were established across England on a statutory basis on 1 July 2022.

Each ICS will include an integrated care board (as described above) and also an integrated care partnership (as described below).

Integrated Care Partnership (ICP)

An integrated care partnership (or ICP) is a statutory committee jointly formed between the NHS integrated care board and all upper-tier local authorities that fall within the ICS area. The ICP will bring together a broad alliance of partners concerned with improving the care, health and wellbeing of the population, with membership determined locally. The ICP is responsible for producing an integrated care strategy on how to meet the health and wellbeing needs of the population in the ICS area.

Best practice for data controllers

Last edited: 22 August 2023 9:37 am