Decision details

Sue Lott, Urgent  Care, Acute and Prisons, Adult Social Care, Lancashire County Council provided a brief report which contained an update to the Health and Wellbeing Board on the Better Care Fund, including the Quarter 3 submission and finance report.  The Board were requested to formally ratify the Quarter 3 report.

The 2025/26 Better Care Fund Planning Guidance was issued on 31 January 2025, with a tight timescale for sign off and submission of 31 March 2025.  The requirement is for a one-year plan only, as central Government have signalled a focused look at the Better Care Fund throughout 2025/26 with revised expectations and guidance published in advance of 2026 onwards.

A brief overview of the planning requirements is included, and the Health and Wellbeing Board is invited to share expectations on the content of the Lancashire Plan.

The Lancashire and South Cumbria Better Care Funds review undertaken by 31ten is now complete and representatives took the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Lancashire Place Partnership Board through the reports and recommendations prior to this meeting.  The Boards are invited to share their reflections, expectations and recommendations.

The Board noted that the report had been prepared on behalf of the Co-Chairs of the Lancashire Better Care Fund Board for the Health and Wellbeing Board and further details on the following can be found in that report:

·  Lancashire Better Care Fund Quarter 3 Submission and Finance Report.

·  2025/26 Better Care Fund Plan.

·  Lancashire and South Cumbria Better Care Funds Review.

·  NHS Additional Contribution to Social Care – Position.

·  Lancashire Better Care Fund Board Updates.

·  Focus On: Lancashire Technology Enabled Care (TEC).

Following the presentation, the following comments were made:

·  That both the Chief Executives of Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board are committed to finding an agreeable resolution for this financial year.

·  Thanks were given with regards to the Supported Living Plans and how this area of work is making a real difference to peoples lives in allowing them to live independently.

·  It was welcoming to see the emphasis of shifting from bed-based care settings to community and neighbourhoods and look at the opportunity to have a complete alignment between the Better Care Fund aspect and the wider-place partnership.

·  Look at directing some of the funds to improvement projects to help the Prevent agenda and looking at different ways of approaching cohorts.

·  Link up with Population Health and the work that is happening in that area.

·  There is only a small amount of the Better Care Fund that is focused on prevention and there is a need to look at how that can be utilised better.

·  There are Frameworks such as the Centre for Ageing Better and Age Friendly Communities for the over 65s, which the Board would welcome further information on as the plans develop to see how well they are progressing.

·  There is a shift from sickness to prevention and seeing that Lancashire becomes age friendly.

·  In terms of the review of the Disabled Facilities Grant, it was noted that this would be presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board at its' next meeting in July.

Resolved:  That the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board:

(i)  Considered the report and recommendations from the review of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Better Care Funds, agreed the areas the Board will endorse, and committed to provide oversight of progress against those.

(ii)  Formally ratified the Lancashire Quarter 3 submission.

(iii)  Shared key elements and priorities the Board expects to be included in the 2025/26 Lancashire Better Care Fund Plan.

(iv)  Considered and endorsed the proposals to bring in support through Partners in Care and Health for the Lancashire Better Care Fund and partnership.

(v)  Requested that an update on Frameworks such as the Centre for Ageing Better and Age Friendly Communities for the over 65s, be presented at a future meeting on how they are developing and making a difference to the residents of Lancashire.

(vi)  Requested that the Disabled Facilities Grant review and recommendations be presented to the Board in July 2025.