Agenda item

To receive an update on the Integration and Better Care Fund and the Improved Better Care Fund.

The Board received a presentation from the Director of Adults’ Health and Care at Hampshire County Council alongside a report the latest information, key issues, and expectations.  Members heard regarding the significance and challenges of aligning all current national policy for developing integrated care delivery and delays in the publication of planning and technical guidance relating specifically to the Integration and Better Care Fund Plan. It was reported that elements of the NHS Long-Term Plan 2019 are significant critical success factors for a shared future vision including the expectation is to deliver new models of out of hospital care, (including intermediate care), for improved population outcomes with significantly improved access to primary care in relation to the adult population.

It was reported that alongside the Integration and Better Care Fund, the three-year, time-limited Improved Better Care Fund (iBCF) was introduced in 2017. This intended to relieve system pressures relating to social care demand and operates within a separate framework of metrics. 

The three elements of the nationally pooled fund allocation was explained and it was confirmed that the current Section 75 Partnership Agreement for the pooled fund is being updated to reflect inflationary increases for 2019/20. Insights derived from the national review of Disabled Facilities Grants 2018 were also noted. The national conditions and performance metrics were reported.  It was noted that although there has been improved performance in reducing delayed transfers of care, with a 46% reduction in social care delays in Hampshire, there is still further improvement needed for Hampshire to attain top quartile performance nationally.

It was noted that the most pressing issues relate to our ability to collaborate and align across multiple infrastructure bodies to deliver the ambitions that everyone shares in what is the only program for integrating health, housing, and social care.  The proposals in the delayed green paper for social care will also be key to moving forwards.  In the meantime, once technical guidance is published the Hampshire system partners will need to refresh the Integration and Better Care Fund Plan for 2019/2020. 

Members considered the benefits of a strong partnership in relation to housing needs for people with physical disabilities related to their need to access adaptations with the potential for a county wide framework and single policy e.g. for a stairlift and the potential for joint work to deliver a process.  It was confirmed that one of forty-five recommendations of the national review of Disabled Facilities Grants in 2018 was to have a Health, Housing and Social Care Partnership Group that would enhance the current local Housing Partnership arrangement if adopted. 

RESOLVED:

That the Health and Wellbeing Board:

·         Note the current position with regard to the Integration and Better Care Fund (IBCF) and Improved Better Care Fund (iBCF) policy.

·         Note the approach to the application of the IBCF.

·         Note that a Deed of Variation to the current Section 75 agreement will be executed so that Hampshire meets expected National Conditions for a jointly agreed plan. 

·         Delegate authority to the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board to take any decisions that are required in relation to IBCF/iBCF approvals before the next Board meeting on 10 October 2019.