Developing a mental health strategy with an integrated care system
Integrated care systems (ICSs) are partnerships of all the organisations in a region who have responsibility for health and care. They are co-ordinated by integrated care boards (ICBs).
Rather than working in silos, organisations in ICSs come together to plan and deliver more joined up services. The goal is to improve the health and lives of people who live and work in their communities.
ICS are responsible for planning and delivering mental health services.
Project aims
Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) ICS are developing their mental health strategy for 2024-2029. They are working with us to ensure it is evidence-based and co-produced with the local population and ICS members.
We will collate information that BSW ICS members have about the needs of their population and their services.
We will also meet with service users and providers so their views can shape the strategy. We will run interviews, structured focus groups and co-production events.
We will work closely with the ICS to write the strategy so that it meets their needs, helping them plan for the next 5 years.
What we hope to achieve
The strategy will underpin the mental health services across the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire region for the next 5 years. It is an important document which will have a significant impact on the thousands of people who use mental health services in the region.
Lead collaborators
- Georgina Ruddle, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board
- Jane Rowland, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board
- Dr Peter McCulloch, University of Bristol
- Debbie Johnson, University of Bristol
ARC West Staff
Dr Emily Eyles
Senior Research Associate, Quantitative Research
Dr Sharea Ijaz
Research Fellow in Evidence Synthesis
Jyoti Goyal
Senior Research Associate, Quantitative Applied Health Research
Carmel McGrath
Research fellow in Public Involvement
Jarka Meleszkiewicz
Communications Executive
Zoe Trinder-Widdess
Head of CommunicationsPartners on this project
Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board
The Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board is a statutory body which brings together NHS organisations with local authorities and other partners to work to improve population health and establish shared strategic priorities.
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is internationally renowned and one of the very best in the UK, due to its outstanding teaching and research, its superb facilities and highly talented students and staff. Its students thrive in a rich academic environment which is informed by world-leading research. It hosts the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research.