The Gloucestershire Health & Wellbeing Board met on Tuesday to discuss the Better Care Fund Plan for 2025/26, and to receive an update on the Integrated Care Board transition. The board approved recommendations for council appointments to the Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing Board, and recommended the Youth Justice Plan 2025/28 to the council for approval.

Gloucestershire Better Care Fund Plan 2025/26

The board reviewed and approved the Gloucestershire Better Care Fund [BCF] Plan 2025/26. The BCF is a national initiative designed to integrate health and social care services. The plan outlines how £91.7 million will be used to support the shift from illness to prevention, and to help people live independently and transition from hospital to home.

Jenny Cooper from Gloucestershire County Council presented the plan, which is structured around national objectives and local priorities. The BCF programme aims to bring local government and NHS services together to support the integration of health, housing, and social care, to provide person-centred care and better outcomes for residents.

Key components of the plan include:

• Funding Allocation: The BCF income for 2025/26 totals £91.7 million, including contributions from the Disabled Facilities Grant [DFG], NHS minimum contribution, and Local Authority Better Care Grant.
• Expenditure: The funding is allocated across 53 schemes, focusing on proactive care for complex needs, home adaptations, support for unpaid carers, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions, and timely discharge from hospitals.
• Metrics: The plan sets goals against three mandatory headline metrics: emergency admissions to hospital for people aged 65+, average length of discharge delay for acute adult patients, and long-term admissions to residential care homes for people aged 65+.
• Governance and Oversight: The BCF planning and submissions are overseen by the Health and Wellbeing Board, with joint commissioning arrangements governed by the Joint Commissioning Partnership Board and Joint Commissioning Partnership Executive.

The board delegated in-year local Health and Wellbeing Board approvals to Councillor Dr Kate Usmar, Cabinet Member for Adults' Support & Independence, as chair of the board.

Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing Board Council Appointments

The board approved the appointment of four Gloucestershire County Council elected member representatives to the Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing Board. Councillor Dr Kate Usmar was appointed as Chair of the Board. The other appointments were Councillor Linda Cohen, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Councillor Ben Evans, Cabinet Member for Children's Safeguarding & Care, and Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities & Fire.

Youth Justice Plan 2025/28

The board recommended that the council approve Gloucestershire’s Youth Justice Plan 2025/28. Councillor Ben Evans sought the board's recommendation to approve the plan.

Integrated Care Board Transition Update

Mark Walkingshaw from NHS Gloucestershire ICB provided an update on the Integrated Care Board [ICB] transition and the 10-year health plan for England.

Key points from the update included:

• Government Announcement: In March, the government announced changes to the role of ICBs and a 50% reduction in running cost allowance.
• ICB Model Blueprint: Issued in May, the blueprint focuses ICBs on their role as strategic commissioners.
• Clustering: An agreement was made between NHS Gloucestershire and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Boards to work as a cluster.
• Leadership Changes: The appointment of a new chair and chief executive officer for the cluster is underway.
• 10-Year Health Plan: The 'Fit for the Future: 10-year Health Plan for England' sets the future strategy, including plans to dissolve the Integrated Care Partnerships.

The update emphasised that the statutory duties of the Health and Wellbeing Board remain the same during the transition, and that there is a commitment to maintaining relationships and the momentum of partnership work.

Matters Arising

The board noted updates on several matters:

• Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment [PNA]: The statutory consultation on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment is currently open and will close on 29 August 2025.
• Local Government Reorganisation: The countywide local government reorganisation survey is open for feedback from 1 July until 9 August 2025.
• Biennial Membership Review: All organisations will be contacted to confirm their member representative on the Health and Wellbeing Board and Health and Wellbeing Partnership.