The Board noted that the Better Care Fund (BCF) is currently in its sixth year the aim of the BCF is to deliver better outcomes and secure greater efficiency in health and social care services through increased integration of provision.  The mains points arising from the questioning arising from discussions on the presentation is summarised below:

The Board:

v  Noted that (i) to receive BCF funding, a local BCF Plan and programme needs to be agreed jointly by the Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), endorsed by the Health and Well-Being Board (HWBB) and finally approved by NHS England (NHSE), (ii) the jointly agreed programme then needs to be incorporated into a formal agreement under Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006, (iii) BCF plans set out the local joint vision for, and approach to, integration, including how the activity in the BCF plan will complement the direction set in the NHS Long Term Plan and are also expected to take into account the wider context, including the development of Integrated Care Systems; the requirements of the Care Act, 2014, and wider local government transformation in the area covered by the plan - for example, programmes, such as Integrated Personal Commissioning.

v  Noted that the Health and Wellbeing Board are required to approve Borough plans and due to the late issuing of guidance and scheduling of Health and Wellbeing Boards this year the Board are requested to retrospectively approve the plan.

As a result of discussions on the report the Board RESOLVED to approve the Better Care Fund Plan for 2021-22.