Integrated care services: Developing strategies for integrated care - A relational content analysis.

Objectives The Health and Care Act, 2022 established 42 Integrated Care Systems [ICSs] to oversee strategy, planning, and funding for health and social care within designated areas. Concerns have emerged about the ability of ICS strategy writers to balance national targets with local needs. There is recognition that initial strategies lacked sufficient depth and breadth, necessitating revisions. This paper aims to support ICS strategy writers to meet the requirements of these revisions Study design A two-phase, systematic relational content analysis was performed. First phase producing aims for future ICS strategies. The second phase, a thematic analysis, produced guidance on intervention themes. Methods The first phase relational content analysis synthesised four foundational documents in the creation of the Health and Care Act, 2022. This allowed a second phase of analysis which aims to offer ICS strategy writers support in the form of a strategy framework. Results The first phase analysis identified two aims: 1) to provide a sustainably streamlined, collaborated and personalised approach to health and social care access; 2) to be proactive in enabling people to stay healthy from their homes and communities. The second phase of analysis produced four themes to support the creation of a strategy framework, designed to support ICS strategy writers. Conclusions This paper identified key national policy drivers and expectations that ICS and Joint Future Planning should consider while preparing their strategies. It highlighted components of effective ICS strategy with the aim of moving towards a personalised, joined up health and care system; the need for data in ensuring evidence-based interventions are prioritised in future ICS/ICB strategy; stronger connection to community and the important role of community led workers; prevention and early detection across the care pathway-delivered through a joined-up approach between clinicians and community-led workers; and addressing wider socio-economic determinants of the communities.