The West Northamptonshire Health and Wellbeing Board meeting included discussion of the Better Care Fund, the Ethical Migrant Worker Charter, and updates on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Improvement Plan. The board was also scheduled to discuss winter preparedness and the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy Delivery Plan.

Better Care Fund

The board was asked to approve the Better Care Fund (BCF) 2025-26 Q2 submission, and to note an update on the fund. The BCF is a government initiative intended to integrate health and social care, requiring integrated care boards (ICBs) and local authorities to agree on a joint plan. These plans involve using pooled budgets to support integration.

The BCF policy framework 26-26 was published on 30 January 2025 and last updated on 27 March 2025.

The report noted that the BCF Executive Board had not met for several months, as it was waiting for a chief executive sponsor. It also noted that no reviews of schemes had been carried out in 2025-26 to date, as the schemes to review are selected by the board.

The report included details of three metrics:

• Emergency admissions to hospital for people aged 65+ per 100,000 population.
• Average number of days from Discharge Ready Date¹ to discharge (all adult acute patients).
• Admissions to long term residential and nursing care for people aged 65+ per 100,000 population.

National Conditions

The report also noted the four national conditions for the BCF:

1. Plans to be jointly agreed
2. Implementing the objectives of the BCF
3. Complying with grant and funding conditions, including maintaining the NHS minimum contribution to adult social care (ASC) (and section 75² in place)
4. Complying with oversight and support processes

Ethical Migrant Worker Charter

The board was scheduled to note the West Northamptonshire Ethical Migrant Worker Charter and updates regarding the position with workers on the International Recruitment Scheme.

In 2022, the government announced the creation of an International Sponsorship Scheme for health and social care, to address workforce pressures following the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme allowed certain health and social care workers to live and work in the UK. The International Sponsorship Scheme ended in April 2025 for any new licences / visas.

According to the report, West Northamptonshire has 117 employers with an active International Sponsorship licence, employing a total of 1,314 international recruits. A survey undertaken in 2024 showed that the overall feedback from care providers was that the scheme had a positive impact on their operations, but that care providers found the scheme confusing and difficult to operate.

The report stated that West Northamptonshire Council had seen many benefits to the scheme, including:

evidence of a new, dedicated workforce, reduced waiting times particularly for people wishing to access Home Care and reduced provider failure due to workforce concerns.

The report noted challenges with the scheme, including licence holders lacking a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration and acting as a recruitment agency, and concerns around the mistreatment of migrant workers.

The Ethical Migrant Worker Charter was developed in co-production with migrant workers, trade unions and employers, and is designed to set minimum standards for employer support for those who come from overseas. Care providers with an international sponsorship licence who operate in West Northamptonshire have been asked to sign the charter.

SEND Improvement Plan

The board was scheduled to receive an update on the SEND Improvement Plan, and to hear a presentation from the Young People SEND Shadow Board.

The previous meeting on 3 October 2025 included a progress update on the West Northamptonshire SEND Improvement Plan. The Director of Childrens Services noted that following an Ofsted inspection in March 2024, the board agreed that an update should be a standing agenda item.

The Local Area SEND Partnership is responsible for implementing the reforms in the Children and Families Act 2014 relating to children and young people with SEND.