The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched a toolkit designed to help commissioners improve the integration of health and social care.

Unveiled yesterday at the King's Fund ‘Better Care Fund Learning Event', the practical guidance was assembled in partnership between a variety of local government, care and NHS bodies between July and December last year.

Contributors include the LGA, care organisations including ADASS and ADCS, the NHS Confederation, Monitor, Public Health England and specialists Integrating Care.

The toolkit contains a modelling tool helping health and wellbeing board areas map the financial impact of integration to local health and care systems, a compendium of resources and a searchable database of existing initiatives.

‘The toolkit has already made waves across local government and health,' said Cllr Katie Hall, chair of the LGA's community wellbeing board.

‘Over 350 people have been involved in the development and testing of the products, and we know local areas are now using the toolkit to support their work on the Better Care Fund and wider integrated care locally,' Cllr Hall added.

Claire Kennedy, senior advisor for Integrating Care said the health and social care landscape was going to look very different from 2015/16 and efforts were required to prepare the sector.

‘This toolkit will help national and local care providers work together to make a substantial difference to the quality of life of individuals and communities across the country,' said Ms Kennedy.

‘We recognise that service co-ordination is far easier said than done, and that the looming BCF deadline will be cause for definite concern in some localities,' she said.

‘But practical help is at hand in the form of the LGA's toolkit.

‘Its examples and user-friendly resources will help health and wellbeing boards and local partners determine exactly what will work best in their region and how.'