30 Jan 2025
by Policy, Practice and Innovation Team

The Department of Health and Social Care published its Better Care Fund policy framework 2025-26. This policy framework outlines the objectives, funding, and conditions for the Better Care Fund (BCF) in England for 2025 to 2026. 

The BCF aims to reform and strengthen neighbourhood health and social care services. Key objectives of the BCF include: 

Reform to support the shift from sickness to prevention. Local areas must agree plans that help people remain independent for longer and prevent escalation of health and care needs, including:

  • Timely, proactive and joined-up support for people with more complex health and care needs.
  • Use of home adaptations and technology.
  • Support for unpaid carers.

Reform to support people living independently and the shift from hospital to home. Local areas must agree plans that:

  • Help prevent avoidable hospital admissions.
  • Achieve more timely and effective discharge from acute, community and mental health hospital settings, supporting people to recover in their own homes (or other usual place of residence).
  • Reduce the proportion of people who need long-term residential or nursing home care.

Local authorities and ICBs must jointly agree on a plan, signed off by the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB), to support BCF objectives. The plans must involve local NHS trusts, social care providers, voluntary and community service partners, and local housing authorities.

The Department of Health and Social Care will engage with local areas to test planning templates to finalise the 2025 to 2026 planning process. Planning templates and guidance are expected to be published before the end of January 2025.

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