Creating partnerships with health and social care for better commissioning

The government has introduced its Health and Care Bill into Parliament. The Bill sets out how a new health and care system, based on integration rather than competition, will be structured.

The focus on cooperation in the Bill represents an opportunity for housing associations to engage more with the NHS at a local level, support their tenants and communities more effectively and encourage better commissioning by the NHS for housing support services.

This briefing outlines the importance of partnerships, and ways housing associations can demonstrate their value and forge partnerships with the NHS in their local area.

Specifically, it covers:

• An introduction, outlining changes coming in the Health and Care Bill.
• Why these changes are important for housing associations.
• Sections on key elements related to the Health and Care Bill:
  • A focus on cooperation and local decision-making
  • Reducing pressure on the NHS
  • Learning from the pandemic
  • Reducing health inequalities
  • Understanding integrated care systems, and how to become part of one.