Issue - meetings

Report CSD18184

The Board considered an update on the performance of the Better Care Fund and Improved Better Care Fund during Quarter 1 2018/19, including expenditure and activity levels.

The Better Care Fund was a programme spanning the NHS and the Local Authority which aimed to join up health and care services to support people to manage their own health and wellbeing and live independently in their communities for as long as possible.  The Improved Better Care Fund was an additional funding element added to the Better Care Fund for a three year period from 2017/18 providing further investment in adult social care services.  In the Spring Budget 2017 the London Borough of Bromley was awarded an IBCF Grant of £4.2M in 2017/18, with grant funding of £3.4M and £1.7M to be provided in 2018/19 and 2019/20 respectively.  During 2018/19, the Better Care Fund was being used to fund a number of locally agreed schemes which supported a reduction in non-elective admissions, delayed transfers of care and the rate of permanent admissions to residential care, as well funding reablement and rehabilitation services that supported older people to remain living independently in their own homes following hospital discharge.  Schemes funded through the Improved Better Care Fund had been developed to meet adult social care needs, reduce pressures on the NHS and support the local social providers market.

In considering the report, a Member highlighted an Improved Better Care Fund budget allocation of £1,566k for Care Homes Investment Options Appraisal for which there had been no allocated spend.  The Interim Director: Programmes explained that this related to work exploring whether it would be cost effective for the Local Authority to establish a care home within the Borough, and that an outline business case was being developed to identify if the proposal was feasible.  If this was the case, the budget for this workstream would be allocated towards the necessary works to take forward the project.  A Board Member noted that there was also a budget area for Market Development and Support with an Improved Better Care Fund budget allocation of £130k for which there had been no allocated spend.  The Interim Director: Programmes confirmed that this referred to a joint project by the Local Authority and Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group to support the development of a stronger, more integrated market for care homes in Bromley and through which three workstreams comprising Strategy, the Health and Social Care Offer and Quality were being progressed. 

The Chairman requested that updates on the Care Homes Investment Options Appraisal business case be provided to Adult Care and Health PDS Committee when available.

RESOLVED that the performance and progress of the Better Care Fund and Improved Better Care Fund schemes, as well as the financial performance for Quarter 1 2018/19 be noted.