National Integrated Care Boards (ICB) Mental Health Partners Network

The National ICB Mental Health Partners Network (the Network) in England is a new network co-produced by RCPsych and NHS Confed. Designed to connect the College with local policy decisionmakers and improve the way we engage with and gather insights from Integrated Care Systems, the Network brings together mental health partner members from all 42 Integrated Care Boards with representatives from all eight College Divisions.

Ultimately, the Network aims to help us influence national and local mental health policy development and support our members to advocate for stronger mental healthcare delivery at a local level.

The input we gather and the connections we build within the Network will improve our understanding of local context, challenges and opportunities within the ICB landscape, and position us to support ICB leaders as they advocate for improving mental healthcare delivery and the prevention and treatment of mental illness. 

How does the Network work?

The Network is the successor of the College Engagement Network (CEN), which ran from 2020-2023. The CEN brought together representatives from mental health trusts across England, and focused on the NHS Long Term Plan and the Community Mental Health Framework.

The Network has an expanded remit and membership: it focuses on mental healthcare delivery and the prevention and treatment of mental illness at the ICB level, and its members include the mental health partner members from all 42 ICBs, and College member representatives from every College Division. 

The Network is a collaboration with NHS Confed, and the advice of College Divisions, NHS Confed Mental Health Network, local policy decisionmakers, and RCPsych members was sought in its development. We will continue to seek the views of these stakeholders as the Network evolves and grows. 

Where and when does the Network operate? 

The Network meets quarterly, with each meeting focusing on a current concern or opportunity facing ICBs. 

What does the Network focus on? 

The Network’s ultimate focus is on improving the delivery of mental healthcare in England.

While the Network is still growing, we want to keep our remit broad and encapsulate all elements of mental healthcare delivery and policy in our discussions and communications, as the local systems we are engaging have diverse challenges and strengths in this area. 

To achieve this objective, we are convening mental health partner members quarterly and communicating with them regularly between meetings to maintain connection.

Through facilitating peer learning and sharing best practices, the Network will support members to improve their ICBs’ understanding of the mental health needs of their populations, improve service delivery and reduce mental ill health.

The Network will provide a learning space for members to discuss mental health delivery in their systems and the challenges they face, and will keep members updated about relevant national policies and funding opportunities that impact local and regional mental health strategies between meetings. It will also provide a space for ICB members to share best practices and workshop situations they are facing, supported by our members. 

How will it have an impact and support our work? 

We hope that we can use the Network and the information we gather and communicate through it to: 

• Improve the delivery of mental health services within all 42 of England’s ICSs.  
• Build strong relationships between mental health partner members, and RCPsych and Confed.  
• Support ICB mental health partner members in their role to reduce health inequalities and improve population health, and to advance parity for mental health in all areas of care. 
• Gather information on the current state and challenges of mental health delivery across ICSs and use this to inform our policy work and influence at local, regional and national levels.  
• Share best practice and workshop challenges.  
• Collect local intelligence to inform national policy making and local improvements to mental healthcare.  

How can I get involved? 

While membership to the Network is closed, we are always looking for member input on your experiences with your ICBs and your perceptions on the policy context and landscape in your region. Your experiences and expertise can help us continue to shape the content and format of the Network. 

We would be interested to hear from those who would like to find out more, be kept up to date, or have particular expertise in working at ICS level. 

To find out more about the Network and share your ICS or ICB experience, please contact the Network’s manager Bel Houston.