Agenda item

Tracy Minshull, Interim Assistant Director Commissioning, Procurement and Finance attended the meeting to provide members with an update in respect of the Better Care Fund and the new Improved Better Care Fund.  The presentation contained the following information:

The Better Care Fund is a programme spanning both the NHS and local government, the programme seeks to join-up health and care services and aims to help people can manage their own health and wellbeing.

The following better car fund metrics have been identified:

·         Non-Elective admissions

·         Long term support needs for 65+ met by admission to residential or nursing home (per 100,000)

·         Proportion of people 65+ still at home 91days from hospital into rehabilitation services

·         Delayed transfers of care from hospital (per 100,000)

The Assistant Director reported that the Local Authority and its partners are not yet on track to meet the targets in the following areas:

1.   Non-elective admissions first consultant episodes

2.   Long term support needs of older people (aged 65 and over) met be admission to residential and nursing care homes per 100,000 population

3.   Delayed transfers of care (delayed days) from hospital per 100,000 population (aged 18+)

The Assistant Director reported that the Council are on track to meet the target in respect of the proportion of older people (65 and over) who were still at home 91 days after discharge from hospital into re-ablement and rehabilitation services.

The Assistant Director reported that the IBCF was given on topof the national BCF funding to help with covering the costs associated with the National Living Wage, Maintain Adult Social Care, Investing in new services to support managing transfers of care

The IBCF funded projects will include; Care at home, residential care, supported living services and re-ablement.

Responding to a member’s question with regards to Social workers working as trusted assessors across Local authority boundaries; the Executive Director reported that cross boundary work has now commenced.  Training has been embedded, however difficulties remain in respect of the different funding arrangements, IT systems and an agreed common passport.  A Bury social worker can assess a Rochdale or a Manchester resident, this system is not yet fully operational across all of Greater Manchester.

Dave Bevitt raised concerns that there has been limited involvement of the third sector/voluntary sector in the development of the locality plan and better care fund.

Responding to a question from the Director of Public Health, the Chief Operating Officer reported that the development of a strategic commissioning functions, including pooled budgets will eventually replace the Better Care Fund.

Members discussed continuing problems with delayed discharge, the Assistant Director reported that an action plan is being developed to address problems in this area.  A suite of discharge to assess beds has been commissioned, beds can also be “spot purchased” as and when required.

The Interim Executive Director reported that following devolution a number of GM standards and Key Performance Indicators have been developed in respect of delayed discharge. 

It was agreed:

1.   That sign off of the Better Care Fund and Improved Better Care Fund Monitoring Report will continue to be delegated to the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, copies of the report, once submitted, will be forwarded for consideration by the Health and Wellbeing Board.

2.   Further detailed information in respect of the different Better Care Fund reporting matrix will be considered at a future meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board.