Agenda item

With the focus remaining on the pandemic and post pandemic recovery there has been little change in the Better Care Fund schemes over the past two years. The end of year review confirms this and gives assurance as to how the money was spent and some associated commentary and metrics. The end of year report is presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board for approval.

Phil Hornsby, Director of Commissioning for People – BCP Council presented a report on the end of year review 2021/22 for the Better Care Fund, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Board was advised that with the focus remaining on the pandemic and post pandemic recovery there had been little change in the Better Care Fund schemes over the past two years. The end of year review confirms this and gives assurance as to how the money was spent and some associated commentary and metrics. The end of year report was presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board for approval.

Phil Hornsby focussed on paragraph 6 onwards in the report which detailed the end of year review explaining that the template Officers were required to complete was set out at Appendix 1 to the report. The Board was advised that all the national conditions were met with the income and expenditure spent as required but not all the performance metrics were met which predominately was due to the impact of the pandemic. The Board was advised that there was commentary in the report on performance. The Director reported that there was an opportunity to provide feedback on the successes and challenges on delivering the Better Care Fund programme last year.  He highlighted that the Council, CCG and service providers had worked well collaboratively over the past 2 years but how that was reflected in the Better Care Fund was difficult to see in terms of performance.  The Board was advised that the collaborative working was particularly evident regarding hospital discharge. Mr Hornsby explained that the challenges in particular related to how the workforce was retained and recruitment undertaken to meet the challenges concerning sufficient care and the support need to keep people at home. The Board was also advised of the issues associated with the sharing of records and data as currently there was more than one source of data. The Director reported that in accordance with the governance review the Health and Wellbeing Board was required to sign off the review.  He explained that in view of the timetable a draft submission was made to NHS England prior to the Board’s approval. 

The Director of Public Health asked if there was an understanding of where the Better Care Fund may go now in view of the ICS.  Phil Hornsby reported that there were no clear planning conditions at this stage but there was an indication that there would be a stronger focus around hospital admissions or readmissions and the prevention of such admissions.  Sally Sandcraft, CCG expressed her view that the BCF was a vehicle to enable resources to be aligned against priorities. She emphasised that the most important issue was how to identify priorities and achieve best effect by joining up and improving outcomes for the local population.  Sally explained that the BCF links to the ICP Strategy.  She also highlighted the significant pressures the system was under and the impact for people who were in hospital when they were ready to go home.  The Board was informed that the majority of those patients ready to go home over 220 people were stuck in hospital waiting for packages of care with 170 waiting for Local Authority funded care which had a detrimental impact on their outcomes.  The Board was advised that the commissioning capacity did not meet the extent of the need.  Graham Farrant highlighted the need to look at the system as a whole indicating that the conversation should be about the numbers going into hospital and how they come out more effectively.     

RESOLVED that having assessed the report the Better Care Fund end of year review for 2021/22 be approved.

Voting - Agreed