Decision details

Katherine White, Deputy Director Adult Social Care Bwd, provided the board with an update report of the Better Care Fund and local plans submitted for 2023/25. The report provided an update on the local Better Care Fund (BCF) plans submitted for 2023/25 and an update on the BCF pooled budget for Quarter 2 of 2024/25.

Approval was sought from the board to utilise allocated resources within the BCF for a 1-year extension of the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) contract Keeping Happy, Healthy and Well.

Schemes and services funded via the BCF were focused on a collaborative approach to delivering integrated, person-centred services across health, care, housing and wider public services. The overarching aim of these schemes and services was to support people to remain living well and independently at home, to improve outcomes for people in our neighbourhoods, including those discharged from hospital, and to reduce inequalities.

The report requested the board to note and approve the utilisation of allocated resources within the BCF for a 1-year extension of the VCFSE Keeping Happy, Healthy and Well commission. There was a funding gap of £109,000 for this extension which arose following an in-year increase to the VCFSE contracts which has been actioned on a continuing basis. The increase was not originally planned for as part of the extension and therefore not in the 2024/25 BCF budget for the VCFSE commission.

An account of progress against the 4 x BCF performance metrics at Quarter 2 was included with all metrics on track to meet target. It was important to note that there had been a national mandate for NHS Trusts to move activity from admissions to same day emergency care (SDEC). East Lancashire Hospitals Trust had already made the change and was submitting SDEC activity. This change was reflected in the performance against metric 1 (avoidable admissions) and possibly metric 3 (hospital admissions due to falls). As more NHS Hospital Trusts move to recording activity as per the national mandate, it was expected that targets would be adjusted accordingly.

An overview of BCF reporting requirements and associated governance was provided within the report. So far this financial year, all the statutory planning and reporting requested been met.

RESOLVED – That the Board

a)    Noted the Blackburn with Darwen Better Care Fund (BCF) Plans submitted for 2023/25 in relation to delivery and performance targets.

b)    Noted the BCF Quarter 2 2024/25 delivery and financial position.

c)    Approved the utilisation of non-recurring resources within the BCF to bridge the gap of £109,000 in funding for extending the VCFSE Keeping Happy, Healthy and Well contract by 1-year.