Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Challenges in integrating health and social care: the Better Care Fund in England

Harlock, Jenny, Caiels, James, Marczak, Joanna, Peters, Michele, Fitzpatrick, Raymound, Wistow, Gerald, Forder, Julien, Jones, Karen C. (2019) Challenges in integrating health and social care: the Better Care Fund in England. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 25 (2). pp. 86-93. ISSN 1355-8196. (doi:10.1177/1355819619869745) (KAR id:75901)

Abstract

Objectives: The Better Care Fund (BCF) is the first and only national policy in England that has legally mandated the use of pooled budgets to support local health and social care systems to provide better-integrated care. Methods: We report qualitative findings from the first national multi-method evaluation of the BCF, focusing on its implementation, perceptions of progress, and expected impacts among key stakeholders. Interviews were carried out with 40 staff responsible for BCF implementation in 16 local health and social care sites between 2017 and 2018. Results: Study participants reported their experiences of implementation and we present these in relation to three themes: organisational issues, relational issues, and wider contextual issues. Participants stressed the practical and political challenges of managing pooled budgets and the complexity of working across geographical boundaries. In a context of unprecedented austerity, shared vision and strong leadership were even more vitalto achieving collaborative outcomes. Conclusion: Pooling budgets through the BCF can lever closer collaboration between sectors and services. Shared vision and leadership are essential to develop and foster this closer collaboration. Although some successes were reported, the study highlights that there are major cultural, operational and territorial barriers to overcome.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/1355819619869745
Uncontrolled keywords: health and social care; integration; Better Care Fund; pooled budgets; evaluation
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Personal Social Services Research Unit
Depositing User: James Caiels
Date Deposited: 20 Aug 2019 14:24 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 17:30 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/75901 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.