Ministers have confirmed that the Better Care Fund will be renewed for 2019 to 2020, bringing the pooled funding to over £6.4 billion.
The planning requirements published on July 18 will reduce the overall reporting burden on local partnerships while improving the measurement and effectiveness of the Better Care Fund.
The fund provides financial support for councils and NHS organisations to jointly plan and deliver local services. It enables people to leave hospital sooner to get the care they need at home.
Social care related delays to patients being sent home from hospital have been nearly halved since February 2017 following investment in integrating health and social care, the equivalent to freeing up almost 1,200 NHS beds.
This builds on the Long Term Plan's aims to create a more integrated and collaborative health and care system.
Minister for Care Caroline Dinenage says: "No one should be stuck in hospital when their treatment has ended - it’s not fair to patients or their families and places huge pressure on our hardworking NHS staff. The Better Care Fund is an important part of ending these unnecessary waits in hospital, joining up councils and the health service for the benefit of patients."
