Issue - meetings

This report provides an overview of Quarters 2 and 3, the End of Year 2023/24, and the 2024/25 planning template of the Better Care Fund (BCF) plan for 2023-25.

The BCF is a key delivery vehicle in providing person centred integrated care with health, social care, housing, and other public services, which is fundamental to having a strong and sustainable health and care system.

The reports are a part of the planning required set by the Better Care Fund 2023-25 Policy Framework. The reports and plan need to be jointly agreed and signed off by the Health and Wellbeing Board as one of the planning requirements.

The Director of Commissioning presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

NHS England (NHSE) required the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) to approve all BCF plans, this was one of the national conditions within the Policy Framework. This included planning documents at the beginning of a funding period, and template returns reporting progress against the plans quarterly.

The report provided an overview of Quarters 2 and 3, the End of Year 2023/24, and the 2024/25 planning template of the Better Care Fund (BCF) plan for 2023-25.

The BCF was a key delivery vehicle in providing person centred integrated care with health, social care, housing, and other public services, which was fundamental to having a strong and sustainable health and care system.

The reports were a part of the planning required set by the Better Care Fund 2023-25 Policy Framework. The reports and plan needed to be jointly agreed and signed off by the Health and Wellbeing Board as one of the planning requirements.

The Board discussed the report and commented as follows:

• In response to a challenge about how the Better Care Fund could be brought to life to demonstrate the positive impacts it was having; the Board was advised that examples of joint working in particular settings could bring to life some of the resident and staff stories and could come to a future meeting of the Board.  ACTION.
• In response to a query about flexibility of the resources to enable focus on changing priorities, the Board was advised that unfortunately it was quite restrictive and the reasons for that were detailed.
• A Board Member requested when it was reviewed, that more consideration was given and highlighted to the 18 – 25 year olds BCP supported.
• A Board Member emphasised the need to consider the impact the BCF was having on those with mental health conditions and the need to ensure maximum value was being obtained from the funds provided.
• The Corporate Director for Wellbeing requested dialogue with NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care regarding the limitations of the BCF and it was acknowledged that changes may come under the new Labour Government.
• In response to a query, the Board was advised that BCP Council had been provided as an exemplar, particularly in the South West for its management of the BCF.

RESOLVED that the Health and Wellbeing Board retrospectively approve the:

·       Better Care Fund Quarter 2 Report

·       Better Care Fund Quarter 3 Report

·       Better Care Fund End of Year Report 2023/24

Better Care Fund 2024/25 Planning Template.