Supporting you and your colleagues through the Integrated Care Systems (ICS) transition

What is an ICS?

ICSs, or integrated care systems, are defined by NHS England as “new partnerships between the organisations that meet health and care needs across an area, to coordinate services and to plan in a way that improves population health and reduces inequalities between different groups.”

The legislation proposed in the government’s white paper, Integration and innovation, will give legal footing to new ICS bodies – to be known as Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) – and move the focus of NHS operations in England from competition to collaboration. You can read MiP’s analysis of the white paper here.  

How might ICSs affect me?

Currently, it is still unclear how all employees engaged in work which will pass to the new statutory Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in July 2022 will be affected. This is an evolving picture. MiP is working hard to minimise disruption, maximise the extent of NHS England's Employment Commitment and ensure a smooth transition to new ways of working in which every member of the NHS workforce continues to feel valued. To find out more, consult our Q&A page, which will be updated regularly.

If you have urgent concerns about how the transition to the new NHS ICS bodies will affect you, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice. 

What is MiP doing?

MiP National Officer Ruth Smith sits on the National ICS Transition Partnership Group (TPG), a subgroup of the national Social Partnership Forum. The group is involved in co-creating national guidance, including a detailed technical HR Framework, a definition of the Employment Commitment and guidance on board appointment and transfer processes.

You can read  more about how the Employment Committment will work on the Social Partnership Forum's FAQs page.

We will update members regularly by email with developments on the ICS transition as other key documents are published. If you are not receiving these emails, visit our members' area to make sure your contact details are up to date. 

How can I get involved?

MiP members who wish to become more involved in advising and supporting their colleagues through the transition to ICSs can become MiP reps or link members. Please email MiP’s National Organiser, Rebecca Hall,  to find out more.

 Last updated: 1 February 2022