Project Manager – All Age Commissioning to deliver the better care fund (BCF) year-end 2021-2022 report as per the requirements of the programme.

The board received a report from Ewen Archibald (Service director for all ages commissioning), Marie Gallagher (Project manager) and Adrian Griffiths (Business manager). It was pointed out that the timescales meant the papers were presented on performance of the last year after they have been submitted. The documents had been reviewed and submitted by chief officers under delegated arrangements. Subject to any further view from the board the submissions have been approved by the Department of Health.

The board were told there were six pools of funding within the better care fund, but only four of those were active and the two were essentially dormant. All the national conditions had been met by Herefordshire in relation to BCF during the period. The great majority of targets set had been met in full, but one that hadn’t was around maintaining low levels of admission to care homes, the target here was 408, but had actually reached 485. This was driven by a huge and sustained demand for home care during the Covid and post-Covid period. The market had largely met that demand, but in some instances people had to be admitted into residential care when otherwise they would have been able to go home with a package of support. An increase in acute need of people going into hospital and being admitted to nursing straight from hospital was the other driving factor.

Good progress had been made with re-enablement and people living independently after 91 days of discharge. The BCF pools as a whole represent a very significant investment in cores services, particularly around integrated and core services. The very significant role of Talk Community was discussed in relation to this. Talk Community hubs had grown and helped create a very diverse and comprehensive system of integration and a wide range of services which support the objectives of the BCF plan.

It was stated that challenges remain from the residual effects of the impact of covid including ongoing demand going into hospital and continuing impact on the availability of the workforce. Recruitment both nationally and locally remains an issue.

An overview was also provided of the new BCF planning guidance and the timelines involved in submitting items to the board.

The board noted the plan had already been submitted and considered if there were any actions necessary to improve future performance and felt that embracing Talk Community would be a key element in maintaining good future performance.

The board enquired whether the people who went into residential care because they couldn't be supported with home care eventually got to go home or did they stay in residential care? This information would be useful in informing the demand and capacity plan for intermediate care.

The board asked if it would be possible to bring BCF details and information to the clinical practitioner forum (PCF) to enable a system-wide discussion, particularly on the areas where improvements could be made. The service director confirmed this would be fine.

Resolved: The Better Care Fund (BCF) 2021-2022 year-end template at appendix 1, as submitted to NHS England, was noted and reviewed, and the board would determine any further actions necessary to improve future performance.

Action: Adrian Griffiths to obtain data regarding people placed in residential homes from hospital and whether they eventually got a package of home care support.