Agenda item - Better Care Fund (BCF)

Report of the Director of Adult Social Services and the NHS Sussex Director for Joint Commissioning and Integrated Community Teams (copy attached).

30.1    This report was presented by Chas Walker, Joint Programme Director, Integrated Service Transformation.

30.2    In response to a question from Tom Lambert on the involvement of the CVS in future Better Care Fund (BCF) planning, Mr Lambert received assurances that the plan was to work in close partnership with the sector.

30.3    Stephen Lightfoot noted that he was content to approve BCF plans with confidence since they are not impacted with the recently announced cuts to NHS England and to Integrated Care Systems.

30.4    Steve Hook noted that the local BCF spend is closely aligned to Shared Deliver Plan priorities. For example, BCF investment into hospital discharge will support the system priority to best manage winter surge pressures. In response to a query from Stephen Lightfoot, Mr Hook told the Board that locality-based discharge metrics for the current year are still being finalised. However, recent performance in this area shows that the measures being taken are working: e.g. there were 20 adult social care related discharge delays in January 2025, but this has been reduced to 11; there were 26 mental health discharge delays in January, but this has been reduced to 15. System partners are confident that these successes can be continued over the coming year.

30.5    RESOLVED – that the Board approves the BCF Planning Submission 2025-26 to NHS England.