Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Accepted
Integrated Care Boards are now primarily responsible for commissioning most local NHS mental health services.
Conclusion
From 2022, the new integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning most NHS mental health services for their local populations. ICBs are NHS bodies, working alongside integrated care partnerships (ICPs) which bring together local government and NHS services on a statutory basis as part of a local integrated care system (ICS).31 The Department and NHSE confirmed that ICBs will be responsible for bringing forward many of the ambitious programmes which are key to the future of mental health services. This includes, for example, developing new models of community-based mental health services; ensuring data sharing across local NHS, local government and voluntary sector organisations; prioritising capital funding for the growing backlog maintenance of mental health trusts; and workforce planning and deployment.32
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and outlines mechanisms for holding ICBs accountable for mental health services, including the NHS Oversight Framework, annual performance evaluations, and new requirements for ICBs to report mental health expenditure from 2023-24. The Health and Care Act 2022 also mandates mental health expertise on ICB Boards.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: Summer 2024 3.2 The NHS Oversight Framework outlines NHS England’s approach to overseeing Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and trusts, utilising 63 metrics, 6 of which relate to mental health. NHS England will continue to undertake delivery assurance within the new model outlined in the NHS Operating Framework, which is complemented by central data repositories that provide an overview of performance at a national, regional, ICB and sub-ICB level. NHS England segments ICBs and NHS trusts on a scale of 1 to 4 and provides mandated support for the most challenged providers and systems. NHS England also conducts annual performance evaluation of ICBs. 3.3 From 2023-24, all ICBs are also required to include a statement of the amount and proportion of expenditure incurred by the ICB in relation to mental health in their annual report, increasing ICBs’ public accountability for their decisions on mental health investment. NHS England will assure ICB spending plans and actual spend. To ensure mental health is sufficiently prioritised, the Health and Care Act 2022 requires that ICBs must have a member who has mental health expertise on the Board. 3.4 NHS England is working within the new operating model to ensure systems are empowered to self-assure spending and delivery, but significant risks and issues will continue to be escalated to support a strategic response. 3.5 NHS England and the department will continue to monitor this approach to ensure that appropriate support is being offered to ICBs.