Agenda item

This report updates the Health and Wellbeing Board on the current position in relation to the Better Care Fund programme for 2016/17 and progress towards developing plans for 2017/19.

Board members received a report on the current position in relation to the Better Care Fund Programme (BCF) programme 2016/17 and progress towards developing plans for 2017/19.

The Accountable Officer, NHS Vale of York CCG stated that national guidance for 2017/19 had not yet been received. The, as yet, unresolved financial context for the local NHS was also a factor in reaching a resolution to some of the issues in relation to the BCF.

The CCG’ Strategic Programme Consultant gave the board assurance that despite not having yet received the guidance conversations were ongoing with partners about the 2017/19 BCF.

A number of performance issues were highlighted including non-elective admissions; the ambulatory care activity element of this was positive and was below the national average. The delayed transfer of care element has settled down and admissions to residential care and other elements of people living at home are positive. Injuries due to falls are on track and consideration will be given to an increased focus on this during 2017/19, including consideration of whether to expand a pilot scheme in Clifton to other areas.

Governance arrangements for the BCF had recently changed and these were highlighted in the report. The Health and Wellbeing Board were asked to approve the Accountable Officer at the CCG and the Council’s Corporate Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care act as a direct link between the HWBB and the BCF Task Group.

As the guidance for 2017/19 had not yet been received it is unknown as to when BCF plans need to be submitted.  This may mean that submission of plans may not coincide with when the HWBB meets. If possible it was agreed the plan would come back to HWBB before submission, however the HWBB were also therefore asked to approve delegated authority to the Chair and Vice-Chair in conjunction with senior officers at the CCG and City of York Council to sign plans if necessary.

The Corporate Director Health, Housing and Corporate Services confirmed that performance was positive and that partnership working had been exemplary.  In relation to Delayed Transfers of Care York had gone from relatively poor performance to being recognised as one of the best in the country and delivering better outcomes for people.

The trajectory has been to reduce the number of people needing long term care and this has been successful and has been a partnership effort.

A question was asked around what work the Council were doing to engage housing associations and it was confirmed that the Council’s housing team had taken the lead on a falls service. Additionally the recent symposium around the Trieste Model was cited as were York’s gold standard for dealing with homelessness and ongoing conversations with TEWV around mental health and housing.

In response to a question about performance it was clarified that the performance dashboard reports on both local and national metrics. The draft guidance for 2017/19 indicates that there will be no requirement to report on local metrics in the future. However the BCF Task Group agreed they should continue to monitor on a local level, with one of the focuses being falls.

Resolved: 

1.   That the revised reporting arrangements set out in paragraph 14 of the report be agreed

2.   That delegated authority be given to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board to sign off the final BCF plans if required

3.   That the reporting frequency for 2017/19 be quarterly and in line with national reporting requirements

Reason: To ensure that Health and Wellbeing Board have oversight of the BCF programme