The Integrated Care Workforce: What does it Need? Who does it Take?

International Journal of Integrated Care, vol. 23, pp. 1

Abstract

The health and care workforce was under pressure long before the pandemic due to the development of new technologies, recurring policy reforms and dwindling ressources.It has though taken the outcry in the aftermath of COVID-19 for researchers and policymakers to realise that something fundamental needs to change.In the integrated care literature and in this journal, the fact that integrated care implementation does not work without the involvement and support of the workforce has been a recurring theme, but also little heeded.As part of the Special Collection on the Building Blocks of Integrated Care, Stein (2016) already asked why building a competent workforce for integrated care is not yet a priority [1] and in reflecting on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workforce, we highlighted the need to take action and enable the workforce to become true partners in care through changes in education and training programmes, building trusted relationships and realising the potential of integrated care [2].Concepts like the Quadruple Aim [3] or the WHO European Framework for Action for integrated health services delivery [4] have helped to shift the focus on workforce planning, education and training or role definitions for integrated care.But it doesn't suffice to offer short-term, focussed trainings for specific programmes or initiatives.If we want the principles of integrated care to become engrained in the work ethic and culture of health and care, a lot more needs to happen.To name but a few examples, regulation and legal frameworks need to support sharing of information, data and accountability among teams and across professions and organisations; accreditation and professional institutions need to value and evaluate the competences for integrated care as an essential part of teaching and continuous development programmes; and funding and reimbursement schemes need to reflect the new ways of working and incentivise collaboration.The question of how technology can be designed and implemented to alleviate some of the pressures on the workforce and support integrated care instead of being seen as an added burden, is another crucial element for further exploration.When discussing the future of the integrated care workforce, therefore, it becomes apparent that much needs to change.However, knowledge and experience of what this change looks like in practice, at which levels, and what the integrated care workforce and its support should be in the future are limited.This special collection seeks to bring together papers that explore all facets of an integrated care workforce.It views the integrated care workforce as comprising more than just health and social care professionals and extending to carers, volunteers, community groups, as well as to people with lived experiences.As a Journal, we are open to being

Authors 4

1. Katharina Viktoria Stein corresponding Aachen Department of Public Health and Primary Care (PHEG)

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands

   International Journal of Integrated Care, The Netherlands

   Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Centre

   International Journal of Integrated Care

2. Nick Goodwin corresponding

   Central Coast Local Health District · University of Newcastle Australia

   Affiliation as printed

   Central Coast Research Institute, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle and Central Coast Local Health District, AU

   International Journal of Integrated Care, The Netherlands

   Central Coast Research Institute, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle and Central Coast Local Health District

   International Journal of Integrated Care, NL

3. Edelweiss Aldasoro corresponding

   International Foundation for Integrated Care · International Foundation for Integrated Care

   Affiliation as printed

   International Foundation for Integrated Care, The Netherlands

   International Journal of Integrated Care, The Netherlands

   International Foundation for Integrated Care

   International Journal of Integrated Care

4. Robin June Miller corresponding

   University of Birmingham

   Affiliation as printed

   Global Engagement for College of Social Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK

   International Journal of Integrated Care, The Netherlands

   Global Engagement for College of Social Sciences, University of Birmingham

   International Journal of Integrated Care, NL