Briefing / Better care fund update

This briefing provides an update on arrangements for the better care fund. The better care fund was launched through the Government's Spending Round in June 2013.

The better care fund was the subject of discussion at the HFMA’s Commissioning Technical Issues Group (Commissioning TIG) and the Accounting and Standards Committee. During 2014, the HFMA released three publications in relation to the fund as follows:

1. Managing the pooled budget (member briefing, March 2014)
2. Realising the benefits (member briefing, July 2014)
3. Pooled budgets and the better care fund (guidance for finance staff, October 2014)

The third publication was produced in association with CIPFA as a result of both the HFMA and CIPFA joining NHS England’s better care fund finance working group. This publication has resulted in the HFMA being asked to present at a number of workshops. This briefing provides an update to the October publication and draws on the information we have gathered at these workshops.