Agenda item

6.1

The Board received an update on the progress of the Sheffield Better Care Fund (BCF) and, as background, a report which had been considered by the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee on 16 November 2022. It summarised what the BCF was, how it was used and its purpose.

6.2

The report was presented by Alexis Chappell, the Director of Adult Health and Social Care, Sheffield City Council. Alexis stated that the underlying culture which was being created was about joined up working between health and social care and to improve outcomes for people.

6.3

The Board discussed delayed discharges from hospital and prevention of admission to hospital. They were informed that there were four targets relating to both issues in the BCF relating to continuing funding. Additionally, short term funding had recently been issued by the government which had another set of targets and work was underway on the response to that funding and the funding criteria. Whatever their age or condition, including mental health or a learning disability, people should be able to return home well and not have long stays in hospital.

6.4

Insights and intelligence into people’s needs and providing a holistic response was also discussed. The BCF presented an opportunity for culture change and how services work with people in the city. Reference was made to the Adult Health and Social Care change programme to enable people to live more independently at home; the role of the Urgent Care Board; and importance of working in partnership. There had to be a shift from a medical model to a wellbeing approach to support the prevention of crisis events which might lead to hospital admission. There was a recent report to the Adult Health & Social Care Policy Committee on the future design of adult social care, which set out joined up working between the voluntary sector, primary care and social care to enable people to live independently at home.

6.5

The Board noted the report.