Part 1: Health Service in England: Integration, Collaboration and Other Changes Integrated Care System: reviews and further amendments Section 31: Care Quality Commission reviews etc of Integrated Care System
This section amends Chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 ("the 2008 Act") to place a duty on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to review integrated care systems.
	Subsection (2) inserts a new section 46B, into the 2008 Act.
Subsection (1) of new section 46B requires the CQC to (a) conduct reviews of the provision of "relevant health care" (defined as NHS care and public health) and adult social care within the area of each integrated care board; (b) assess the functioning of the system in relation to the provision of this care, and in particular, how the various bodies work together, including for example the role of the integrated care partnership; and (c) publish a report of this assessment.
Subsection (2) requires the Secretary of State to (a) set, and from time to time revise, objectives and priorities for the CQC in relation to assessments under the section and (b) inform the CQC of these. Subsection (3) requires that priorities set by the Secretary of State under subsection (2)(a) must include priorities relating to leadership, the integration of services and the quality and safety of services. Subsection (4) requires the CQC to (a) determine, and from time to time revise, indicators of quality for these assessments and (b) obtain the approval of the Secretary of State for these indicators. Subsection (5) allows the Secretary of State to direct the CQC to revise these indicators. Subsection (6) allows for different objectives, priorities and indicators for different cases.
Subsection (7)(a) requires the CQC to prepare, and from time to time revise, a statement on (i) the frequency of reviews and period to which the reviews relate, and (ii) the method of assessment and evaluation for these reviews. Subsection (7)(b) requires the CQC to obtain the approval of the Secretary of State for this statement. Subsection (8) allows the statement to make different provision regarding the frequency, period and method for different cases. Subsection (9) requires the CQC to consult NHS England and any other persons it considers appropriate before preparing or revising the statement. Subsection (10) allows the Secretary of State to direct the CQC to revise the statement.
Subsection (11) requires the CQC to publish (a) the objectives and priorities, (b) the indicators of quality, and (c) the statement on frequency and method.
Subsection (12) defines terms used in section 46B, with subsection (13) allowing for the definition of "relevant health care" to be amended by way of Regulations. Such regulations would be subject to the draft affirmative procedure.
	Section 31(3) of the Act amends section 48 of the 2008 Act (special reviews) so that a review under section 46B is not a special review under section 48 of the 2008 Act.
	Section 31(4) of the Act amends section 50 of the 2008 Act to add reviews under section 46B requiring CQC to take certain steps if it considers a local authority is failing to discharge any of its adult social care functions to an acceptable standard.