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Integrated Care Board

As set out in the ICS Design Framework, it is proposed, subject to legislation, that an integrated care board will take on all functions of CCGs as well as direct commissioning functions NHS England may delegate including commissioning of primary care and appropriate specialised service.

Integrated Care System (ICS)

In an ICS, NHS organisations, in partnership with local councils and others, take collective responsibility for managing resources, delivering NHS standards, and improving the health of the population they serve. There are currently 42 ICSs across England and each covers a population size of 1-3 million. An ICS includes both an integrated care board and integrated care partnership as statutory entities.

Healthwatch England

Healthwatch England was established as an independent consumer champion for health and social care. It also provides a leadership support role for the local Healthwatch network. Each local Healthwatch is part of its local community and works in partnership with other local organisations.

Health Education England (HEE)

HEE is a national arm’s length body of the DHSC that supports the delivery of excellent healthcare and health improvement to the patients and public of England by ensuring that the workforce of today and tomorrow has the right numbers, skills, values, and behaviours, at the right time and in the right place.

Electronic Staff Record (ESR)

This is a national database used by most NHS trusts in England and Wales to hold staff data. The functions are interlinked and specific to HR, training, occupational health, and payroll.

Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

Under the Equality Act (2010), all public sector organisations need to undertake an equality analysis of the impact of any changes to or new policies/services in relation to the nine protected characteristics e.g. race, disability, gender etc. This is often done through equality impact assessments – a system which many NHS organisations have in place.

Equality Delivery System (EDS)

The EDS is a toolkit and framework for assessing how NHS organisations are performing regarding equality, diversity, and human rights; how they can improve; and how they get to where they want to be.

Equality and Diversity Council (EDC)

The EDC works to bring people and organisations together for a personal, fair, and diverse health and care system, where everyone counts and the values of the NHS Constitution are brought to life. The council provides leadership on equality and health inequalities issues across the health and social care. Its purpose is to shape the future of health and social care from an equality, health inequalities and human rights perspective and to improve the access, experiences, health outcomes and quality of care for all who use and deliver health and care services.

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

The DHSC leads, shapes and funds health and social care in England. DHSC is a ministerial department, supported by arm’s length bodies, and other agencies and public bodies.

Commissioning Support Units (CSUs)

CSUs provide a wide range of commissioning support services that enable clinical commissioners to focus their clinical expertise and leadership in securing the best outcomes for patients and driving up quality of NHS patient services. This includes transformational change – such as overseeing the reconfiguration of local services – as well as transactional support – including IT, HR and business intelligence – to a range of customers including CCGs, acute trusts, NHS England and NHS Improvement and local government. Ownership of the contract a CSU holds with a CCG should transfer to the new statutory ICS in April 2022 – subject to legislation.

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

The CQC is responsible for regulating the performance of all health and social care providers, both public and private.

Community care

Most community healthcare takes place in people’s homes. Teams of nurses and therapists typically coordinate care, working with other professions.

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)

Clinically-led, statutory NHS bodies responsible for the planning and commissioning of health care services for their local area.

Arm's Length Bodies (ALBs)

ALBs regulate the system, establish national standards, protect patients and the public, and provide central services to the NHS.

Acute care

Acute care is the treatment of patients with short-term but serious conditions.