Integrated Care Academy

Our vision

The Integrated Care Academy (ICA) at UWE Bristol is an exciting partnership being created with our NHS, commercial, charity and independent sector partners across local and regional health and social care systems.

We envisage collaboratively creating a health and social care system that fosters new patient-centric and sustainable models for health, social care and wellbeing that become best practice in the UK and beyond.

As the South West’s inaugural ICA, our centre of excellence unites individuals, organisations, industry, networks and partnerships, establishing a dynamic living lab, dedicated to pioneering novel approaches for research, teaching, enterprise and technology transfer.

Two nursing students learning how to take a blood sample.

Establishing key networks and partnerships

The ICA brings together clinicians, academics, researchers and system leaders to create new delivery pathways. It links higher and further education to create innovative learning pathways for learners across key networks leveraging new and established partnerships.

The ICA develops new educational and workforce pathways, leading to new professional disciplines that directly address modern challenges. It enables us to equip health and social care professionals with the skills to work collaboratively at every level, placing patients and carers at the centre of designing and delivering new care pathways.

Our ICA seeks to develop, improve, and test the service delivery models of the future, equipping workforces with the skills to continuously challenge, reinvent, and refine health and care practices.

"My role has demonstrated the value of placing an intern within the ICA. Not just to support the department and its staff, but also for other allied health students interested in pursuing research and academic roles."

Sam Pilkington, ICA research intern

Sam Pilkington ICA research intern

Sam Pilkington recently completed her studies in Diagnostic Imaging at UWE Bristol, where she received a first-class honours. Following the completion of her degree, Sam became the first research intern within the Integrated Care Academy (ICA) at UWE Bristol.

During the two-month internship, Sam collaborated on a systematic literature review on physical activity advice-giving, for which an abstract is being presented at the International Society for Physical Activity and Health Conference in Paris (November 2024). She contributed to data collection, analysis and presentation for other projects, including a local evaluation exploring the impact of a digital self-management intervention in primary care.

Sam also worked on submitting a College of Radiographers Industry Partnership Scheme (CoRIPS) grant. This will explore perceptions of autism within the radiography profession, with the hope of launching a wider body of work on neurodiversity within Allied Health Professions.

Sam is due to commence her graduate role as a Diagnostic Radiographer at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in late October.

Our core principles

Professor Marc Griffiths, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Health introduces the Integrated Care Academy – Core Principles.

Addressing societal challenges through the ICA

Our ICA leverages additional strengths in education, training, research and evaluation, together with effective industry partnerships, to tackle three significant challenges:

Meeting the rising demand for health and social care staff at all levels of expertise and skill while promoting a greater mix of skills and agility.
To support partners with access to personalised care when needed, balancing it with the workload across community, primary, and acute care services.
Collaborating with acute and community care organisations to redesign patient flow, primarily focusing on delivering effective community care.

Funded projects

A healthcare professional giving a talk to university students.

Allied health professionals leadership in academia

As part of the ICA at UWE Bristol, funding was secured from NHS Health Education England (HEE) to explore allied health professionals (AHPs) leadership in academia through a three part project.

Nursing students being trained by a lecturer.

Inclusive training for healthcare students

This NHS funded project explores the South West's approach to inclusive training within practice for healthcare students and international staff.

Sonographer using an ultrasound machine to assess a patients tummy.

Sonography extended practice

UWE Bristol has secured funding from NHS England for an exciting new project to further develop sonographer skills, and enable them to expand and advance their field of practice.

Biomedical student looking into a microscope in a lab.

Biomedicine in allied health diverse internships

This project aims to enable a diverse health workforce environment by funding and supporting diverse placement opportunities for widening participation students from the School of Applied Sciences.

Lecturer talking through a chart displayed on large screen.

Procurement of healthcare science equipment to support training

UWE Bristol's has secured funding from NHS England for the procurement of equipment and software to support the delivery of training in healthcare science.

The partnership

In building the ICA, UWE Bristol is delighted to collaborate with several partners across local and regional health and care systems, including:

Promoting future facing facilities

UWE Bristol offers a diverse range of learning environments and state of the art training facilities. These spaces provide an immersive setting for aspiring healthcare professionals to hone their skills and gain invaluable hands-on experience. By simulating real-world scenarios in a safe and controlled environment, our trainees can confidently develop the expertise necessary to deliver compassionate, high-quality care.