Point of Care Foundation selected for CQC inequalities project
20 February 2024
The Point of Care Foundation and National Voices have been selected to work with the Care Quality Commission on a project supporting Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) to reduce health inequalities.
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In September 2023, the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund awarded CQC a grant of £635,394. The fund is being delivered by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
CQC will use this funding to develop a framework for use by Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) in collaboration with the Point of Care Foundation and National Voices.
The aim of the framework is to help ICSs measure how well they listen to the experiences and needs of people and communities to reduce health inequalities.
Over the next 12 months, CQC will work with the Point of Care Foundation and National Voices. This project will develop a rigorous, scalable, self-assessment framework for ICSs.
Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) will be able to use this to assess how well their ICSs reduce health inequalities by understanding the health and care needs of people and communities.
The project will work with voluntary and community sector (VCS), system and strategic partners to:
- identify innovative and creative ways of measuring how well ICSs understand and respond to the health and care needs of people more likely to experience poorer care and inequalities.
- work collaboratively with research, system and VCS partners to co-design and test a framework for measuring the impact of approaches to inequalities.
- develop, test and promote a suite of associated guidance, learning products and activities.
Chris Day, Director of Engagement at CQC, said:
“We are pleased to be working on this project with the Point of Care Foundation and National Voices, as well as with partners in the health and care system. The framework will enable integrated care systems to demonstrate their progress and success in how they understand and respond to the health and care needs of people and communities. It will also show how inequalities in health and care services are being reduced.
Our State of Care report shows that inequality in access, experience and outcomes of health and social care is a fundamental problem. Systems need our support to achieve their health inequality objectives and address these.
Currently, ICSs have no consistent approach for measuring the impact of involving people and communities on reducing health inequalities. We are refining our approach following the pilots and looking ahead to the rollout of the first assessments of ICSs. We are committed to supporting them to tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience and access to health and social care.
The project also supports CQC’s wider strategic ambitions to:
- deliver regulation driven by people’s experiences and needs
- provide independent assurance to the public of the quality of care in their area
- push for equality of access, experiences and outcomes from health and social care services.”
Jessie Cunnett, CEO of Point of Care Foundation, said:
“We are delighted to be working with CQC and National Voices on this project. We will be working to co-design and test a framework for ICSs that will help measure the impact of their work to reduce health inequalities.
This project aligns with our mission to humanise health and care by working to ensure people and communities are at the heart of developing the services they use. To achieve truly inclusive and compassionate services, we must be able to recognise and learn from the different experiences of diverse groups within our communities.”
Jacob Lant, CEO of National Voices, said:
“We are excited to embark on this important project from the Regulators Pioneer Fund alongside CQC and the Point of Care Foundation.
Integrated Care Systems are a genuine opportunity to ensure that the health and care needs of people and communities are fulfilled in a coordinated, person-centred way that puts the individual in control of their own health.
We are delighted to be involved in the creation of this new framework, co-produced with VCSE organisations and people with lived experience. In helping ICSs to assess how well they are engaging with people and communities, especially those at risk of health inequalities, we hope to help ICSs realise their true potential.”
Get involved
To inform the framework, we are looking for examples of best practice. Do you have an example of outstanding or innovative people and community involvement within systems? Do you have an example of people and community involvement in ICSs leading to a reduction in health inequalities?
If so, please send them to info@pointofcarefoundation.org.uk
Regulators’ Pioneer Fund
The Regulators’ Pioneer Fund is a grant-based fund to enable UK regulators and local authorities to help create a UK regulatory environment that encourages business innovation and investment.
The current £12m round is being delivered by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.