Purpose

•The GHfH were/are funded from the
2024/25 Adults Social Care (ASC) Discharge Grant. This is one year
funding.
•This grant has been merged with the Improved Better Care Fund
for 2025/26 and renamed the Local Authority Better Care Grant. This
led to uncertainties about 2025/26 funding use and
availability.
•The national Better Care Fund Policy Framework was delayed
and not published until early February 2025, impacting on internal
decision requirements.
•No funding decision could be made before and until the
Council had agreed its budget for 2025/26.

Content

Given the identified risks, and the options
available, the decision was to fund the Going Home from Hospital
(GHfH) service in full for 2025/26 through the Local Authority
better Care Grant. This funding is grant compliant and in line with
the key priorities for the Better Care Fund. The service is
recognised as a valuable partnership with VCSE colleagues, that
supports and delivers an essential service to the residents of
Bristol.
Following on from this decision, negotiations will be ongoing with
NHS colleagues to identify shared and contributory funding
opportunities given the shared benefits of the service.
A formal evaluation of the service will be part of the funding
envelope, and will be carried out @ 6 months, with a final
evaluation at 12 months, to compliment the current University of
West of England (UWE) rapid evaluation.
Service Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) will be reviewed
and refined for 2025/26.

Alternative options considered

Options were considered:
•Agree funding @ £479,577 (flat rate with no
inflationary up-lift)
•Agree funding @ £479,577 + inflationary up-lift at the
agreed BCC ASC provider up-lift rate
•Agree funding and seek retrospective contributory NHS
funding
•Seek NHS funding contribution before confirming funding
•Funding not agreed.
Not to fund was excluded given the strong outcome evidence base for
the service. Further, the service gives BCC a VCSE led platform
both in the hospitals and BCC’s front door to support our
prevention agenda in 25/26.
The ASC Discharge grant component of what is now the Local
Authority Better Care Grant is flat for 2025/26. Because of this an
inflationary up-lift was not agreed.
The service delivers shared benefits with and for the NHS. Seeking
NHS funding contribution was agreed but to do so retrospectively
and not delay the funding decision.