Agenda item

7.1

Jennie Milner attended the meeting and presented the report.  The Better Care Fund (BCF) update built on the information provided at the previous meeting.

7.2

Jennie Milner informed the Board that the BCF programme was on track for Quarter 3.  Delayed Transfer of Care (DTOC) statistics had maintained for 15 months.  Next years plan was currently being developed.

7.3

Sara Storey asked whether the targets were the correct ones as in the past, a lot of time had been spent chasing numbers and negative experiences should also be reflected.  Jennie Milner responded that the four metrics of the Better Care Fund provided a balanced picture to ensure that unnecessary admissions were being avoided, ensuring that people were not readmitted back to hospital within 91 days of discharge, through the adequate provision of reablement and ensuring people were appropriately admitted to permanent residential care.  It was only possible to measure things that could be counted, it was more difficult to measure the impact the voluntary sector had had on DTOC.  Capturing feedback from people on their experience of care was providing a fuller picture.

7.4

Nikki Doherty congratulated Jennie Milner who had changed the dynamic of the BCF Team.  Consideration needed to be given to how the BCF had responded to the CQC inquiry and how it could listen to patient voices.

7.5

Councillor George Lindars-Hammond felt that the metrics were better than before, but there were weaknesses in terms of funding.  There was a need to look at the Joint Commissioning approach and encourage the role of the Health and Wellbeing Board in the process.

7.6

RESOLVED: That, (1) in considering the questions set out in the report in relation to the Better Care Fund Update, the Board’s answers be as follows:

1.    How does the Health and Wellbeing Board wish to influence and support the Joint Commissioning Plan for 2020/21? A rhetorical question for the Board to consider.

2.    What additional assurance would Health and Wellbeing Board like to receive to be reassured that the financial position for each of the Better Care Fund themes is understood and being managed by the Commissioning organisations? Reassurance from the Joint Commissioning Committee.

3.    Are there any particular Better Care Fund themes which the Board would like to be prioritised in future updates? Prevention and investment in communities.

(2) the Quarter 3 submission be retrospectively approved for submission to the NHSE and LGA,

(3) the actual financial position to Month 8, of £0.959m overspent, be noted,

(4) the forecast outturn position, as calculated at Month 8, of £1.564m overspent, be noted,

(5) the KPI information available at the time of writing the report, be noted,

(6) the approval of the 2019/20 plan and actions to be taken to sign off section 75, be noted,

(7) actions required to seek assurance on financial balance at the end of the year be considered.