The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has launched a new framework to help reduce health inequalities.
The health and care watchdog worked in partnership with National Voices and the Point of Care Foundation to develop a self-assessment and improvement framework to help Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) address health inequalities.
Integrated care systems (ICSs) are local partnerships that bring health and care organisations together to develop shared plans and joined-up services. The new framework will support them to improve the way they tackle health inequalities.
Engaging with people and communities to reduce health inequalities
The framework includes advice and guidance for honest conversations, gathering insights and developing practical actions through engagement linked to people and community strategies.
The CQC and its partners collaborated with public health practitioners, ICS leaders, engagement experts, voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) partners as well as people with lived experience to co-design the framework. It was then tested with four ICSs.
It is designed to provide ICSs with a whole-system, structured approach to improving health outcomes and creating fairer, more inclusive systems of care.
The project was supported by funding from the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund.
A framework for ‘truly inclusive and compassionate services’
The Director of Engagement at CQC, Chris Day, explained that widespread health inequalities “continue to affect access to care, experiences of care, and outcomes for people and communities.”
He added:
“This framework is the result of many months work with our partners National Voices and the Point of Care Foundation to provide support for ICSs, who play a vital role in addressing these challenges. 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 4 ICSs that participated in the testing phase.
“I look forward to hearing how ICS have implemented this framework in the coming months and how it supports them to measure and demonstrate improved outcomes for health inequalities within their systems and services.”
Meanwhile Sarah Massie, the Programmes Director for the Point of Care Foundation said they hoped the framework “will help develop truly inclusive and compassionate services.”
She added:
“By empowering integrated care systems to work closely with people in their communities, it is paving the way for more equitable, impactful and inclusive health and care services.”
What are health inequalities?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) describes health inequalities as “differences in health across the population, and between different groups in society, that are systematic, unfair and avoidable.”
The conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age can significantly impact both our physical and mental health and wellbeing. These are often referred to as wider determinants of health.
Health inequalities can be experienced by groups of people who share common factors, such as:
- Socioeconomic status and deprivation
- Protected characteristics
- Belonging to vulnerable or excluded groups of society
- Geography
These factors can often overlap, so people may fall into combinations of these categories. This can lead them to experience even more severe health inequalities.
Health inequalities can be measured through differences in:
- Prevalence of medical conditions and mortality rates
- Behavioural risks to health, such as smoking
- The wider determinants of health such as housing and employment
- Access to care services
- The quality and experience of healthcare services
The Covid-19 pandemic shone a harsh light on health inequalities in the UK, while also greatly contributing to them.
Training to support health and social care services
First Response Training (FRT) is a leading, national training provider.
They deliver over 7,000 courses each year in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, food safety, mental health, health and social care and other special focus topics.
Their diverse portfolio includes training awards designed for care workers, such as Infection Control and Prevention, Safeguarding Adults, Duty of Care, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Person Centred Care and Support and many others.
Their course portfolio spans Care Certificate standards, mandatory training awards, clinical skills, special focus courses and training for supervisors and managers.
A Trainer at FRT, says:
“Everyone has the right to high-quality, safe, compassionate and person-centred care that meets their needs, and to be able to access this care when they need it.
“Unfortunately, many people face barriers to accessing the care and support they need and/or have poor experiences of care and treatment when they do access services. This must change, and we are pleased to see frameworks and guidance being put in place to help address and reduce health inequalities.”
For more information on the training provided by FRT, please call them on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.