The Head of Integrated Services presented the report of the Director of Adults, Health and Strategic Commissioning which provided a summary of the proposed content of the Better Care Fund (BCF) Plan for 2024/25 and asked for approval of the plan. It set out the detail of the budget areas to be pooled in 2024/25 as part of the mandatory Section 75 agreement with the Integrated Care Board. It was reported that there were no material changes for Wirral and the capacity and demand assumptions were correct. It was noted that Wirral has a much improved NCTR of less than 10 percent of beds occupied by people with NCTR compared to 2023 when the NCTR figure was 34 percent. The ambition was to have only 5 percent of people in beds who could be at home. It was reported that a delirium pathway was being developed. It was explained that the Health and Wellbeing board had sovereignty to approve the plan and the Section 75 agreement was then scheduled to go to the Adult Social Care and Public Health committee that evening. The levels of funding were predetermined and it was noted that the Council had no influence over those. There was an ambition to work with far more people with lived experience and carers.

Members asked about the quality of life after discharge from hospital and this was discussed. It was explained that statutorily a person who went home with a package of support would have to be reassessed by a social worker.

Members asked about who shaped the BCF plan and a workshop was to be held to enable members to influence the deployment of the BCF services. 

Resolved: That

1. the content of the mandatory BCF Plan for 2024/25 be approved.

2. Continued compliance with the requirements of the BCF fund be noted and that (NHSE) outcomes for 2023/25 continued to be met.

3. That there were no changes to the capacity and demand assumptions included in the 2023/25 BCF plan be noted.

4. The information provided that will enable the Health and Wellbeing Board to influence the deployment of BCF services within the lifespan of this plan (2023/25) and plans be noted.

5. That the current position does not pose a risk to the Section 75 Agreement be noted.

6. The detail of the budget areas to be pooled in 2023/24 as part of the mandatory Section 75 agreement with the Integrated Care Board be noted.