Issue - meetings

The paper is to provide an update on the Better Care Fund Plan for 2024/25 for information. The purpose of the paper is to assure the Board that robust planning and monitoring processes are in place. 

Contact: Vicky Dutchburn, Director Of Operational Delivery & Performance (Kirklees), West Yorkshire ICB, Cath Simms, Service Director, Adults Social Care Operation, Tel: 01484 221000.

Cath Simms, Service Director, Adults and Social Care Operations and

Vicky Dutchburn, Director of Operational Delivery and Performance, provided the Board with an update on the Better Care Fund (BCF). The aim of the update would be to outline the plan spend through the BCF for the 2024/25 financial year, and also the plan for next year, and to get agreement from the Board. 

The Board was provided with an overview of the BCF, which is a mechanism for joint spending between the ICB, health and the council.  It is not new money it is direct from the council and the ICB.  The only exception to that is there has been some additional three year national non-recurrent funding specifically for adult social care, supporting hospital around discharge. The final year for the funding is 2024/25 and it is not clear whether there will be a repeat of that funding, although there may be some additional monies coming through for that.

There are some very clear national conditions and requirements that have to be followed in order to spend this money.  Essentially it is around enabling people to stay well, safe and independent at home for longer providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time.  There is a clear planning framework that needs to be followed.  The recent one was a two year planning framework, the BCF plan covered from last year 2023/24, through to this year 2024/25. 

The Board was provided with a summary of how both partners, the ICB and the Council contribute to the pooled funding as follows:

 Source                                 £ ICB                    £ Kirklees Council

The Board was informed that in terms of how the spending has been planned for this year, a working group was established with representation from the ICB and Kirklees Council to oversee the planning process. For the 2024/25 plan, each scheme has been subject to a review to determine:

Review criteria

-        Delivery against national objectives

-        Risk to future delivery

-        Value for money

-        Opportunities for efficiency through transformation

Update and approvals

-        In terms of approvals, the Health and Wellbeing Board (H&WB) is required to complete a planning template and delegated authority for this has been given to Vicky Dutchburn and Cath Simms to submit on behalf of the H&WB. Updates have also been delivered to the Joint Kirklees Senior Leadership Team. 

-        The plans were submitted to the BCF team in August, and the Section 75 agreements is being updated.  This is a legal agreement to outline how the money is to be spent

The Board was informed that there is often an element of back and forth with the national BCF team regarding whether the narrative about how the money is going to be spent is explained to them.

In terms of key points:

-         It is imperative that the plans meet the minimum financial contributions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21