To review the better care fund (BCF) 2018/19 quarter one performance report and approve the integration and BCF plan 2018/19 refresh, as per the requirements of the national programme.

The head of partnerships and integration introduced the report and highlighted the key points. She noted that partners had agreed to invest improved better care fund (iBCF) funds in a number of new areas including a trusted assessor scheme, discharge to access model and to support improvements in the quality of care in care homes. It was recognised that substantial performance improvements were required to meet the new target in relation to Delayed Transfers of Care (DToC).

The case studies circulated as a supplement to the agenda papers were reviewed as examples of the impact the additional funds were expected to have.

In discussion of the report the board noted that:

·         there was no single area of weakness in Herefordshire care homes, key themes identified in inspections of homes were around recruitment and retention of staff, leadership and management not having a full understanding of what was required, poor care planning and the environment of some homes;

·         a nurse led, rapid improvement team employed by the CCG had been set up to provide hands on support and early intervention;

·         care homes in Herefordshire were generally run by smaller providers and work was taking place to improve partnership working and mentoring for weaker providers;

·         where homes were judged to be failing a condition could be imposed requiring that they work with an improvement partner;

·         the case studies provided were helpful in translating the work being undertaken to real life situations.

It was resolved that:

a)    the better care fund (BCF) 2018/19 quarter one report, at appendix 1, as submitted to NHS England was reviewed;

b)    the integration and BCF plan 2018/19 refresh, at appendix 2 and 3, as submitted to NHS England be approved; and

c)    the board determined there were no further actions it wished to recommend to secure future improvement in efficiency or performance at this time.