34 Suffolk and North East Essex ICS | ‘Our Journey Together’ 5.2 Build the system on values, principles and relationships Strong connections through ‘soft wiring’ Health and care systems are vast and involve a staggeringly diverse range of organisations; these range from hundreds of small primary care, social care or community organisations through to significant public bodies with large budgets and thousands of employees. In addition to those organisations directly involved in planning and delivering health and care services there are then a broader range of stakeholders who are also key to health and care transformation including universities, industry and community anchors. Although it is tempting to try and apply mechanical or hierarchical principles to ‘structure’ the system these approaches are almost always unsuccessful, can create tensions and can never reflect the reality of what is the true health and care ecosystem. ‘Hard wiring’ might exist between some organisations in the form of contracts or referral protocols, but these are insufficient alone and a poor alternative to the far stronger connections that are possible between organisations through the ‘soft wiring’ of genuine, organic two way ‘human relationships’ built on shared values and principles and a depth of understanding. Shaping the system narrative Stakeholders talked about the culture of strong relationships and shared values that developed in Suffolk and North East Essex ICS over time. This included some important principles introduced through the ICS that they felt had helped to shape a strong local system narrative and create a tangible sense of shared understanding, vision and purpose. Examples of ICS ‘brands’ that over time became part of the system narrative included: • ‘Can Do’ Health and Care • Higher Ambition • Start with Why? • Thinking Differently Together • System learning • How do we heal? • What Matters to You and Why? • Break the Mould • Uncomfortable Truths • Future Shift Picture – GPs Tanvir Alam & Freda Bhatti with Phanuel Mutumburi holding ICS ‘Uncomfortable Truths’ Campaign logo, 2024 Picture – Nick Hulme, Chief Executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust addressing delegates at EXPO2023
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