STUDY 6 - What are the educational requirements of pre-registration students training within UK Integrated Care Systems to deliver fair and equitable health and social care for service users and carers in underserved communities?

This PhD project explores how Integrated Care Systems can help reduce health inequalities and improve care for people from underprivileged or underserved communities. Integrated Care Systems bring together NHS services, social care, local councils, voluntary organisations and other partners so that care can be more joined-up and better matched to the needs of local people.

The project will look at how these systems can provide fairer and more equal access to care, especially for people who may face barriers because of poverty, social disadvantage, ethnicity, location, disability or other inequalities. It will also explore what this means for the education and training of new health and social care professionals.

By understanding how integrated care can support disadvantaged communities, the PhD aims to identify the knowledge, skills and values that future professionals need to work effectively in these systems. The findings will help inform health and social care education so that newly qualified professionals are better prepared to deliver inclusive, person-centred and equitable care.