Systems should work together to address challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. This could include joint training programmes to upskill staff currently in the region, region-wide recruitment schemes and incentives for staff to remain in the region when changing roles
The number of people with intellectual disability and epilepsy in their catchment area should be known by every integrated care system (ICS). Measures should be taken to ascertain this data, and processes put into place to update it regularly. This data should be used to inform commissioning of services for this group
Mechanisms to allow greater participation of patients with intellectual disability and epilepsy in decision-making at a service and ICS level should be introduced and promoted. Patients should be contributing to the design and delivery of the services they use.
Regional patient forums should be used to monitor the consistency of care between services and ICSs.
Single joint care plans covering both epilepsy and intellectual disability should be introduced.
Shared care agreements and protocols should be introduced in each ICS, to ensure all aspects of care are covered between the intellectual disability and epilepsy services.
Every ICS should have a named commissioner responsible for care for people with intellectual disability and epilepsy. This could be combined with the role of the person responsible for LeDeR oversight (monitoring deaths of people with intellectual disability). Having an individual in each ICS with a similar role would allow for ICSs to share concerns and problem solve on a regional level, and allow for sharing of best practice between ICSs.
Links between health and social care services, local councils and voluntary sector services should be strengthened to encourage holistic care across the whole spectrum of support available.
ICSs should complete the Step Together toolkit or a similar service evaluation regularly (every 3–5 years) to monitor changes over time.
