Better Care Fund

The Better Care Fund (BCF) programme supports local systems to deliver the integration of health and social care in a way that supports:

• person-centred care
• sustainability
• better outcomes for people and carers

The Better Care Fund:

• helps the smooth transition of people out of hospital
• reduces the chances of readmission 
• supports people to avoid long term residential care

The fund also supports services across health and local government to join up - for example, support for unpaid carers, housing support and public health.

Download the Better Care Fund Policy Framework 2023 to 2025 CF policy framework 2023 to 2025 to find out more.

National conditions

The four national conditions are:

1. Plans to be jointly agreed on by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the local government chief executive before being signed off by the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB)
2. Implementing policy objective one
3. Implementing policy objective two
4. Maintaining the NHS contribution to adult social care and investment in NHS commissioned out of hospital services

Vision, priorities and objectives

The vision for BCF 2023 to 2025 is to support people to live healthy, independent and dignified lives through joining up health, social care and housing services seamlessly around the person.

The priorities are to:

• improve discharges
• reduce pressure on emergency, acute and social care
• support intermediate care, unpaid carers and housing adaptations

The vision is underpinned by two BCF objectives:

1. Enable people to stay well, safe and independent at home for longer
2. People have the right care at the right place at the right time

Commissioners should agree on how services will promote independence and address the needs of those at risk of losing independence, including admission to residential care or hospital. They should continue to focus on making sure people are discharged in a way that maximises independence and leads to the best possible outcomes.  

Rutland’s priorities:

• unified prevention
• holistic health management in the community
• hospital flows 
• enablers

Download the Rutland BCF Plan for more information