Councils are expected to focus Better Care Fund allocations published this week on ensuring adult social care services work with the NHS to support the introduction of the government's 'Neighbourhood' health and care drive.
The BCF - first introduced over ten years ago under the coalition government - has always been focused on reducing hospital admissions and improving integration between the NHS and social care - but is expected to be used to lay foundations for reforms set out in the NHS 10 year plan to shift care out of hospitals, focus on prevention and promote greater independence for people with long term conditions such as dementia.
The allocations given to each council are broadly the same as last year, but are expected to change next year as the Neighbourhood health and care framework changes become operational.
Councils are expected to work with Integrated Care Boards to plan spending in 2026 on 'supporting delivery of more integrated and preventative services which support independence, prevent avoidable admissions to hospital or long-term residential care, and enable timely and effective acute, community and mental health hospital discharge,' the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said as it published allocations today.
This 'includes developing the quality, efficiency and outcomes of intermediate care,' it added.
