Health Education England elearning for healthcare (HEE elfh) has worked in partnership with the Interim Foundation Pharmacist Programme (IFPP) team to develop a new programme that introduces Integrated Care Systems (ICS) to trainee pharmacists, early career pharmacists and other pharmacy team members.
All areas in England were mandated to be part of an ICS by April 2021. 42 ICSs have now been established, bringing together various NHS organisations, local authority, and strategic partner organisations in collaboration to plan and deliver better and more integrated care for their local population.
Pharmacy teams provide services across health and care settings, working with other healthcare professionals and teams. Pharmacy leaders are also members of strategic and operational teams that are responsible and accountable for the planning and delivery of services within ICSs. It is essential for members of the pharmacy team to understand how they contribute to achieve the priorities of their local ICS.
The elearning programme aims to introduce early career pharmacy professionals to the principles underpinning ICS based on the NHS Long Term Plan and how the pharmacy team fits into ICS structures. The following topics are covered within the programme:
- Principles of Integrated Care Systems (ICS)
- Structures, organisations and partners within an ICS
- Patient interactions within an ICS
- Pharmacy teams’ contributions to planning and implementation of services within an ICS
Interactive case studies illustrating how various teams and systems integrate to provide joined up care for individuals are provided.
For more information and to access the session, please visit the Introduction to Integrated Care Systems (ICS) for Early Career Pharmacy Professionals programme page.