Issue - meetings

To receive an update on the Better Care Fund Plan.

The Better Care Fund (BCF) Plan is a national programme to fund integration of health and cares services at a local level. In Haringey, it is underpinned through a £38m annual Section 75 agreement to pool funds between North Central London (NCL) ICB and London Borough of Haringey (LBH). The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) who run the BCF Programme requested each local area to submit a full Plan in June 2023 for the period 2023/24 and 2024/25.

Paul Allen and John Tomlinson from NHS Haringey CCG presented the Better Care Fund Plan 2023/24.

The following Points were noted in the discussion:

• It was noted that this report was delayed for the Council meeting last year.

• The report included a narrative, an investment schedule, and metrics for delivery.

• The report also encompassed Demand and Capacity analysis for Haringey’s intermediate care services.

• It was noted that the Health and Wellbeing Board's needed to approve the submitted Better Care Fund (BCF) Plan.

• BCF is a national program supporting health and social care integration for resident independence and improved outcomes.

• Haringey's BCF 23/24 aligns with the Borough Plan and supports the Ageing Well Strategy.

• The Plan was aimed to assure the Board of Haringey's commitment to health and social care integration.

• The national BCF requirements are for each Board to submit its Plan to the national BCF Team. The national BCF Policy Framework includes a joinlty agreed local plan signed off by the Health and Wellbeing Board, NHS Contribution to social care maintained in line with uplift to NHS (at 5.7%) and investment into NHS commissioned out-of-hospital services.

• Boards were required to submit Narrative and Excel spreadsheet outline of its plan. Implementing the BCF policy objectives such as enabling people to stay well, safe and independent and home for longer and provide the right care in the right place at the right time.

• Haringey’s investment schedule showed that the BCF plan was £38m investment in 2023/24 (£42M in 24/25) – nationally set level of minimum investment of which at least £7.7m needs to be on Adult Social Care related spend and £6.7m needs to be NHS commissioned out of hospital spend.

• There was also additional Funding for social care directly via Improved Better Care Fund (iBCF) and Disabled Facilities Grand (DFG’s). £2.4m Discharge Fund included in 2023/24 with £4.3m available in 2024/25.

• On the structure of the narrative, it was noted that there was a tiered approach to investment or the ‘Care Cone’, which is followed through of the BCF Plan, this starts with Healthy Safe and Well, Early Help, Severe/Complex and Specialist/Emergency at the top.

• The Plan addressed three key challenges, both locally and nationally:

• Firstly, the plan responded to the pandemic's legacy, managing increased cases of deteriorating underlying health. Secondly, to prepare out-of-hospital systems for heightened NHS Trust activity to ensure safe winter hospital discharge. Lastly, to tackle issues related to equity of access, outcomes, and experiences, especially in deprived areas within the Borough.

• The progress since 2022 was highlighted and this included:

• The successful distribution of 2,000 ‘Ageing Well Guide’ copies and provided training for 'age-friendly Haringey'.

• It was noted that there was an approximate 30% increase in GP consultations for older people, especially in deprived areas.

• MACCT received positive evaluation, reducing emergency admissions by 40%.

• There was a continued investment in out-of-hospital services, with 93% of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24

To receive an update on the Better Care Fund Plan.

The Better Care Fund (BCF) Plan is a national programme to fund integration of health and cares services at a local level. In Haringey, it is underpinned through a £38m annual Section 75 agreement to pool funds between North Central London (NCL) ICB and London Borough of Haringey (LBH). The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) who run the BCF Programme requested each local area to submit a full Plan in June 2023 for the period 2023/24 and 2024/25.