Babies, children and young people to be integral part of Health and Care Bill
After nearly a year of collective effort by the children's sector - led by the Children and Young People’s Health Policy Influencing Group (HPIG) - NCB and Council for Disabled Children (CDC) are delighted that babies, children and young people will now be an integral part of the Health and Care Bill.
Following the tireless efforts made by HPIG members and engagement with officials at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Parliamentarians from both houses, specific commitments have now been made by the government during a debate in the House of Commons in relation to children and the new Integrated Care Systems (ICSs):
- Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) will be required by primary legislation to set out the steps it will take to address the needs of those aged 0-5 in their forward plan;
- NHS England will issue statutory guidance, stating that each ICB must nominate an executive children’s lead, ensuring much-needed leadership for babies, children and young people on every ICB;
- NHS England guidance will require ICB annual reports to include reporting on how they are delivering their safeguarding duty, from April 2023.
- The government will issue bespoke guidance for babies, children and young people, including provisions for Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) strategies to consider child health outcomes and integration of children’s services, as well as providing that the ICP should consult local leadership, as well as children and families themselves.
