Agenda item - Better Care Fund (BCF) 2024-25 End of Year Report

Report of the Director of Adult Social Services (copy attached).

12.1    This item was presented by Chas Walker, Programme Director, Integrated Service Transformation.

12.2    Mr Walker told the Board that:

·       Brighton & Hove was fully compliant with national BCF conditions in 2024-25

·       The 24-25 BCF Grant was fully spent, and met the minimum contribution thresholds for spend on adult social care, discharge and admissions avoidance

·       The avoidable admissions target was met. It should be noted that there was variance across the city, with East Brighton showing higher levels of avoidable admissions. Going forward, the development of the East Brighton Health Hub should help tackle this

·       The discharge target was met

·       The falls admission target was not met, with high levels of falls in both the East and West of the city. Reducing falls will be a major focus of Neighbourhood Health Plans, and learning from the Westdene pilot on providing targeted support to people with mild frailty will also be used to improve services

·       The target for residential/nursing care admissions was not met. There is work to do here in terms of looking whether extra care housing capacity is being used effectively, and in ascertaining whether the night monitoring system could be put to better use in reducing admissions.

·       The 2025-26 BCF plan has been approved by NHS England, but with a condition that partners agree a Performance Improvement Plan and use this to revise key performance metrics.

12.3    Stephen Lightfoot commented that it was disappointing that 2 out of 4 targets were missed. However, it is reassuring that partners know why the targets were missed and have a plan for improving performance. For 2025-26 it is essential that there is a continued focus on discharge. It should also be noted that the NHS 10 Year Plan states that there will be reform of BCF in 2026-27.

12.4    Tanya Brown-Griffith told the Board that there is very close working between the ICB, the city council and the VCS. Integrated working at neighbourhood level is the key to improving performance.

12.5    Tom Lambert noted that it is important that discharge is viewed holistically, for example because the impact on unpaid carers of discharging someone needs to be properly assessed.

12.6    RESOLVED – that The Board:

·       endorses the end of year performance monitoring report for Better Care Fund plan 2024-25, following submission to NHSE in May.

·       notes the national approval of our BCF Plan for 2025-26 but that this has associated conditions