Purpose

The Better Care Fund (BCF) is a
programme spanning both the NHS and local government which seeks to
join-up health and care services, so that people can manage their
own health and well-being and live independently in their
communities for as long as possible.
 
The programme is planned and
delivered at Health and Wellbeing Board area level across England.
For West Sussex, day to day oversight of BCF is within the remit of
the Joint Commissioning Strategy Group on behalf of the Health and
Wellbeing Board. BCF planning is undertaken on an annual process,
which follows the issuing of national BCF planning guidance from
NHS England.
 
The national BCF programme
requires local systems to enter into a joint commitment via an
Agreement under Section 75 of the NHS Act. This enables budgets and
decision-making authority to be delegated between West Sussex
County Council and NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board, to the benefit
of the BCF Programme.
 
Now that the planning process
is completed, a new S.75 agreement must be entered into, to replace
the previous agreement, which incorporates any updates and changes
from last year’s plan, with the core terms of the agreement
remaining consistent.
 
The Director of Adults and
Health will be asked to sign the 2023-24 S.75 agreement on behalf
of West Sussex County Council.
 

Decision

The Director of Adults and Health has approved
that West Sussex County Council enters into the Better Care Fund Section 75
agreement (attached to this report at Appendix 1), for
2023-24.