Building Population Health Management capabilities for NHS ICBs
ICBs needed population health management tools to identify strategic priorities and deliver personalised, community-centered services, requiring complex data integration, governance frameworks, and multi-stakeholder change management across different regions. CF assembled specialised delivery teams with dedicated ICB leads, established robust information governance frameworks, managed technical integration with Palantir and Accenture, and successfully achieved deployment of the first working product across three incubator sites through structured stakeholder engagement and a phased delivery approach.
What was the challenge?
The publication of the model ICB blueprint supported the definition of the role of ICBs as strategic commissioners, responsible for directing long-term population health strategy. To deliver the new policies to shape these outcomes, providers will need to access tools that can identify strategic priorities to enable the delivery of downstream personalised, community-centred services delivering real-world impact. To answer this, the FDP Population Health Management tool was developed.
The programme required establishing robust information governance and data access frameworks for primary care data, integrating complex technical systems including PLICS data and Summary Care Records, and managing change across multiple stakeholder groups. It was critical to navigate intricate data flows, ensure compliance with national and local governance requirements, and deliver training support across incubator sites and early adopter ICBs spanning different regions.
What did we do?
CF assembled a comprehensive delivery team that combined senior leadership with specialized product development and delivery experts across multiple functional areas. The team was structured with dedicated ICB leads for each region and subject matter experts in information governance, technical integration, change management, and programme management oversight.
We implemented a systematic approach with clear role delineation across Programme Management Office (PMO), information governance, technical build, change management, and training functions. This included establishing structured engagement protocols with seven regular external meetings to support ongoing development and stakeholder coordination, alongside comprehensive internal meeting structures to ensure daily alignment.
Working in close partnership with Palantir and Accenture teams, CF managed complex technical deliverables spanning primary care data scoping, product specification development, technical integration planning, and data integration. Throughout this process, we delivered comprehensive change impact assessments, evaluation planning, and skills gap assessments while maintaining coordination with multiple external stakeholders across the programme.
Once identified Early Adopters will undergo a rapid engagement and onboarding process:
This process will ensure each system’s leadership is aligned and agreed on rollout objectives, plans and timelines, while confirming key stakeholders have the necessary capacity to support programme scoping, including technical, data and information governance expertise.
What was the impact?
CF successfully delivered seven conditional milestone deliverables across information governance, technical build, change management, and training domains. We established functional information governance frameworks for primary care data, completed technical integration planning, and integrated PLICS data on the national tenant.
The programme achieved deployment of Minimum Viable Product 1 across all three incubator sites (Cheshire & Merseyside, Frimley, and North East & North Cumbria) and established engagement frameworks for early adopter sites.
