Agenda item

A report was considered updating the Panel on the quarter four outturn of the Better Care Fund (BCF) Plan for 2015/16 including a summary annual report on activity and progress.  The Panel was reminded of the background to the BCF, noting that the Pooled Budget in 2015-16 was £8.762m, rising to £9.035m in 2016-17.  The funding supported 31 schemes that provided an opportunity to test new ways of working, but in total the BCF expenditure accounted for less than 10% of total health and social care spending in Slough.  The Council and CCG would need to agree an Integration Plan by March 2017 to mainstream activity as BCF was expected to be phased out by 2020.

The BCF programme had performed well in 2015-16 in terms of the metrics with a reduction in the key indicator of non-elective admissions in 2015 compared to 2014.  Admissions had increased this year, however, it was considered that the BCF activity had had a positive impact in reducing admissions lower than they may otherwise have been.

Members asked about the changes made to the programme during the past year and it was responded that under-performing schemes were assessed and either redesigned or stopped with the funding being directed to other projects.  In 2015/16 this allowed the Complex Case Management and Responder Service to be piloted which were considered to have been successful.  Several new areas of investment had been identified for 2016/17 including the Integrated Cardio Prevention Programme, enhanced GP support for care homes and Out of Hospital Transformation to try to avoid unnecessary admissions.  The Panel agreed that it was important to understand the evidence of what was working to inform decision making and it was agreed that a more detailed summary be provided on the impacts of the schemes receiving BCF investment.

The Panel discussed the workforce implications of more integrated working with the example cited of domiciliary care workers potentially providing an enhanced service.  It was recognised that there were efficiencies and benefits that could be unlocked, however, such changes needed to be carefully planned between providers.  A workforce strategy was being developed to set out how staff were recruited, retained, skilled and motivated throughout the future changes.  At the conclusion of the discussion, the Panel agreed to note the report.

Resolved –

(a)  That the progress report on the Better Care Fund be noted.

(b)  That a more detailed summary of the impacts of key BCF projects be circulated to Panel Members via email.