Levers for change

A summary of the levers for change which we can all use to promote the difference that your knowledge and library services make to healthcare.

Legislation

• Health and Care Bill 2022 14Z40 Duty in respect of research

Each integrated care board must, in the exercise of its functions, facilitate or otherwise promote:

1. research on matters relevant to the health service, and  
2. the use in the health service of evidence obtained from research

Strategy

• Knowledge for Healthcare 2021-26
• Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England, 2024 Lord Darzi
• Care Quality Commission, 2024: Guidance for assessing the well-led key question for NHS trusts outlines the role that proactive NHS knowledge and library services play in well led organisations to improve education, lifelong learning, research, the spread and adoption of innovation and evidence-based practice
• NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, 2023
• NHS Operating Framework, 2022 
• NHS Long Term Plan, 2019
• Topol Review, 2019

Contract

• NHS Education Funding Agreement 2024-27. Schedule 1, section 5: Knowledge and Library Services (Placement Providers) sets out requirements

Digital transformation

• What Good Looks Like framework: Success measure 6 - Improve care

Your ICS embeds digital and data within their improvement capability to transform care pathways, reduce unwarranted variation and improve health and wellbeing. Digital solutions enhance services for patients and ensure that they get the right care when they need it and in the right place across the whole ICS.

Standards

• Knowledge and Library Services Quality and Improvement Outcomes Framework

Policies

• NHS Library and Knowledge Services in England Policy
• Indicative funding guidance
• Staff ratios
• Learning space
• Emotional support

Value proposition

The Gift of Time. Professionally staffed health knowledge services deliver a cost-benefit ratio of 1:2.4. Where knowledge managers provide evidence searching and summarising services cost-effectiveness increases to 1:3.85.  

Professional development

Equitable funding for KLS staff training and development.

Establishment of the Knowledge for Healthcare Learning Academy offering accredited learning and development for the specialist workforce. 

Funded innovations since 2020

• Small grants to raise awareness and share knowledge about sustainability within NHS knowledge and library services
• 2-year proof concept funding for vanguard to embed librarian knowledge specialists within Primary CareTraining Hubs
• local funding for specific purposes including place-based initiatives and partnership working

Partnerships

• Concordat on digital knowledge resources

Integrated care systems

Template business case for ICS-wide knowledge and library services for local customisation.