Key messages to achieve better joined-up care

The key messages from this guide are:

• Joint working does not happen without planning, sign-up from all parties and sustained effort. It is not a new concept, but all organisations will face challenges in making it successful and sustainable.
• Joint working needs to happen at every level to achieve joined-up care, with buyin from all those involved. It requires change across multiple organisations, across all levels and, importantly, across communities, including local residents.
• Co-production with local people and communities is critical. They provide essential insights and are a valuable asset to the development of integrated services. Co-production can enable people to help shape how services are designed and developed.
• Practical steps can be taken to support joint working – taking it one step at a time is acceptable. This guide contains examples of how different areas have tackled problems associated with joint working in practice.

People need health, social care, housing and other public services to work seamlessly together to deliver better quality care. More joined-up services help improve the health and care of local populations and may make more efficient use of available resources.

2017–2019 Integration and Better Care Fund Policy Framework, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

The Government is committed to the aim of person-centred integrated care, with health, social care, housing and other public services working seamlessly together to provide better care.

2019–2020 Better Care Fund Policy Framework