When we started this work, integration was being talked about nationally but there were no real examples on the ground, so our health and wellbeing board (HWB) said: ‘Let's do a whole-systems-based approach, improve health and wellbeing across the city, reduce health inequalities, give our children the best start in life and care better for our most vulnerable and elderly.'

The five clear aims for our board included: more joined-up commissioning arrangements across health and social care and a single pooled budget; an integrated health and social care provider for the city; person-centred care which focuses on all of an individual's needs; prevention and early intervention focused on the population; and an increased focus on our capacity and assets – housing, leisure, community safety and employment.