Abstract
Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INT) Programme, prompted by the Fuller report and in line with the Integrated Care System approach, addresses the need for a person-centred, multidisciplinary team approach to the population health and wellbeing, and tackling health inequalities.
INT aim to improve the well-being and health and care outcome of the residents of the London Borough of Ealing, placing a strong emphasis on system-wide partnerships and collaboration.
It entails the active participation of Primary, Secondary Care, NHS Trusts, ICB, Community Services, Social Care, Mental Health Services and the Third Sector which constitute the Ealing Borough Based Partnership (EBBP), all vested in co-producing the INT structure, workforce, priorities and approaches.
The EBBP initiation laid the foundation for collaborative efforts. INT strategically expanded across three Ealing localities. A robust infrastructure, with a borough-level INT Programme Delivery team and secured funding for clinical leadership, facilitated the identification of priorities. High-Intensity Users (HIU) became a key borough-wide focus, leading to the development and testing of the new HIU referral pathways enhancing the holistic, multidisciplinary framework.
The outcomes included strengthened relationships, trust, a structured approach to a collective issue, and shared set of principle outcomes. Co-production efforts led to shared ownership of solution development, empowering passionate leaders in each INT to quickly realise the potential, benefits and impact of collaborative approaches, especially within limited resources. The initiative played a particularly crucial role in addressing and mitigating health inequalities within the community.
The described approach emphasizes several key factors in the development and implementation of INT. Firstly, the engagement of stakeholders, coupled with person-centred approaches that prioritise addressing individual needs, serves as a foundation for effective implementation of interventions under the INT umbrella. Second is the recognition of the value of co-production, emphasizing collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders. Establishing INT as one of the first priorities for BBP allowed the programme to leverage senior buy-in and consistent support in the dissemination of the INT’s vision and commitments at all organisational levels through an effective communication and socialisation strategy. Central to the success of INT initiatives is the cultivation of a shared vision and comprehensive understanding among stakeholders. Developing inter-organisational partnerships emerges as a pivotal strategy, fostering an environment where all partners are regarded as equals. Furthermore, the INT approach supports preventive orientation, and the incorporation of population health data to support identification of priorities actioned at later stages of the programme. Local knowledge and expertise from a wide group of stakeholders are highlighted as essential components, that would allow integration into existing frameworks. This comprehensive approach calls for strategic investment, a dedicated workforce, and the appointment of locality-based leads, all underpinned by effective project management principles. In essence, these insights offer a roadmap for creating and sustaining successful INT Programme.
Moving forward, the INT approach aims to enhance visibility, expand the stakeholder group, accomplish locality-level priorities, refine primary stakeholders' engagement and involvement, and develop an evaluation report to share insights, learnings, and best practices derived from the programme.