A major review of Integrated Care Systems has called for a complementary social care workforce strategy to support the interdependence of health and social care.

Health and social care secretary Steve Barclay commissioned former health secretary Patricia Hewitt to lead the independent review in November 2022, asking her to consider how the oversight and governance of these systems can best enable them to succeed.

In the review Hewitt calls for ICSs share of NHS budgets going towards prevention to be increased by at least 1% over the next five years.

The report also calls for more to be done to ensure the flexibility of health and care staff so that they can move between roles and in the delegation of some healthcare tasks.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Integrated care systems are an important part of the government’s plan to deliver more joined up and effective health and care services and to cut waiting times for patients, one of the prime minister’s key priorities for 2023.

“Ministers will review recommendations of this report in due course.”

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive at NHS Providers, said: “At a time of great pressure across the health and care system, ensuring the right oversight, accountability and support for trusts and integrated care systems is critical.

“We welcome this report as it highlights how ICSs can help integrate care, forge partnerships within and beyond the NHS, and shift towards a preventative model of care.”

Sarah McClinton, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said:  “The Hewitt review is spot on, the current sticking plaster response to health and care crises isn’t working. We need to shift public funds into preventing ill health on a big scale. That will mean people can get great quality care and support in their communities when they need it before their health deteriorates and they need expensive acute care.

 “But you won’t be able to do that without a long-term, fully funded plan to fix adult social care. For decades government’s have ducked that challenge, and the road has run out now. We need to fix adult social care to ensure our families and friends get the care and support they need in the future. As the Hewitt Review points out that must include a national workforce strategy to sort the staffing crisis in social care, complementing the one the government is developing for the NHS.

“And Patricia Hewitt’s prescription of fewer national targets is right. The new local health and care partnerships the government have set up could transform care for people in their areas, but only if they’re given the freedom to respond to the needs and wishes of the people they serve. Social care, public health and the voluntary sector need to be equal partners at the heart of decision-making which needs to happen closer to communities. People need to be in control of their own care. What we need from the government is the sustainable funding and backing to improve care and solve the current crises in the NHS and adult social care.”