Overview
In early 2024, we published Keep it Local for Better Health: How Integrated Care Systems can unlock the power of community. This expanded the Keep it Local approach for transforming local services solely from councils and into health systems.
Soon after, West Yorkshire became the first Integrated Care Board (ICB) in the country to adopt the approach the Keep it Local approach.
With the five local authorities already signed up, this made West Yorkshire the first “Keep it Local” Integrated Care System (ICS).
Following this, Locality worked with the ICS through its VCSE Alliance, known as Power of Communities, to support its development and implementation of the approach in key areas.
This included those areas which enable the delivery of the government’s shift of the NHS to a more community-based, prevention-focused, “neighbourhood health service”.
This report explains this process and explores the learnings from it to help other ICSs understand how and why to follow suit.
Alongside this report, we’ve also published a practical guide to “Keep it Local” commissioning for health services.
If you’d like to understand more about the Keep it Local approach for your health system, contact us at policy@locality.org.uk.
Related reports
Keep it Local Health Commissioning Guide
A practical 10-step guide for health commissioners to unlock the power of local VCSE providers.
Keep it Local for Better Health
How Locality’s long-standing Keep it Local principles for public services can help Integrated Care Systems unlock the power of community.
Understanding health system funding
How local VCSE organisations can best position themselves for health system funding, overcome barriers, and influence change.
Creating inclusive services
The role of community organisations in creating services which meet the needs of their local population and address health inequalities.
The VCSE sector in prevention and primary care
Locality has compiled this report on behalf of the NHS England People and Communities Directorate.
The formation of “VCSE Alliances” within Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) is an important step in embedding the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector within health systems.
On the back of this, this report seeks to continue NHS England’s focus on addressing barriers and developing a greater understanding of the benefits of embedding the sector by exploring its role in prevention and primary care in neighbourhoods.
It is an important topic – within ICSs, VCSE organisations play arguably their most important role at the neighbourhood level. Their close connection, trust, and understanding of local people and the wider determinants of their health is a vital asset to the work of the NHS to keep people healthy in their communities.
Through a focus on real-life examples across the country, this research focusses on understanding the trends and opportunities in VCSE involvement in prevention and primary care, the benefits produced, and the factors for success.
Space to thrive
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Creating health and wealth by stealth
New research from Locality recommends changes to the way the health system involves community anchor organisations in illness prevention services.
Our latest report – Creating health and wealth by stealth – explores the role of large, well established community organisations in promoting good health and preventing disease in their neighbourhoods.