Agenda item

To consider an update on the development of the Better Care Fund Plan for 2017-19.

5.1       Dylan Champion (Interim Head of Health Partnerships) gave a presentation updating the Board on the Better Care Fund (BCF) Plan for 2017-19. He advised that the Government had published national guidance on 7 July, however the local framework was yet to be published. Dylan Champion drew Members’ attention to the provisional allocation of the funding for the improved BCF for 2017-18 as set out in the presentation. He advised that the Council was working with in conjunction with NHS Central London and NHS West London CCGs on the final proposals to ensure the best allocation of funds. The Council was also allocating additional financial resources to adult social care in order to meet rising demand. Members noted the eight areas of change proposed under the High Impact Change Model for Managing Discharge of Care, these being:

·         Early discharge planning

·         Systems to monitor patient flow

·         Multi-disciplinary/multi-agency discharge teams, including the voluntary and community sector

·         Home first/discharge to access

·         Seven day service

·         Trusted assessors

·         Focus on choice

·         Enhancing health in care homes.

5.2       Dylan Champion confirmed that the BCF Care Fund Plan for 2017-19 needed to be submitted to the Government by 11 September 2017.

5.3       During Members’ discussion, the Chairman asked whether any problems were envisaged in submitting the plan by the deadline on 11 September and what would happen if the Government were unfavourable to the plan submitted. In respect of the improved BCF (iBCF) supplementary submission due by 21 July, she asked whether this was on target. Members asked at what stage the detailed breakdown of allocation of funding would be available and it was remarked that it would be desirable if the voluntary and community sector were involved in the discharging of the plan and early engagement with this sector should be undertaken. Clarification was sought as to whether there had been discussions on what actual measures would be undertaken with the plan. Members enquired what steps would be taken in terms of engagement with services users. Members welcomed the BCF Plan being reported to the Board and the opportunities that this would provide to monitor its implementation.

5.4       In reply to issues raised by Members, Dylan Champion advised that the BCF Plan was being worked through and the Government would not sign off the plan if it fell short of expectations. Members heard that discussions had taken place as to when a more detailed BCF Plan would be made available, including the individual projects contained within it. Consultation with service users was due to commence before September and a meeting with Healthwatch and NHS Central London and West London CCGs was due to take place on 18 July to discuss ways of engagement. Dylan Champion advised that the BCF quarterly submission was due to be submitted to the Government on 21 July. Considerable work had been undertaken on this prior to Government guidance being issued and the support of NHS Central London and NHS West London CCGs was needed in order for the Government to accept it. He added that the iBCF supplementary return setting out proposed targets for reducing delayed transfer of care was due to be submitted by 21 July, however this had been delayed due to guidance not being published and was now likely be submitted in September.

5.5       Chris Neill (Interim Deputy Director, NHS Central London CCG) advised that the key performance indicators (KPIs) in respect of the iBCF were already performing at high levels and it was difficult to agree stretch targets.

5.6       The Chairman advised Members that the North West London Strategy and Transformation Group was in the process of producing a paper to demonstrate what the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) is designed to achieve and progress was being made to use more accessible language.

5.7       Dylan Champion then referred to the four national BCF priorities, these being jointly agreed plans, maintaining social care, investing in out of hospital services and managing transfer of care and he advised that Westminster was undertaking activities addressing all these priorities. He then sought Members’ views as to how to agree the BCF Plan for 2017-19 before the deadline of submission on 11 September in view that the Board would not meet again until after this date.

5.8       The Board agreed that the BCF Plan 2017-19 be circulated to Members for any comments and that final approval be delegated to the Chairman and Dr Neville Purssell (Vice Chairman and NHS Central London CCG clinical representative).