Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Elizabeth Higgins, John Lyon and Takki Sulaiman.

Prior to the commencement of Business, the Chair invited Kenny Mathieson, public representative to make a statement to the Board.

Mr Mathieson made a statement on behalf of himself and carer representatives Tracey White and Kirstie Reid, advising that they felt like they were treated as outsiders and not Board members, that their points were not listened to and their questions were not answered by Officers.

The Chair, on behalf of the Board, noted the statement made and advised that this matter would be picked up out with the meeting.

Councillor Ross Moreland joined the meeting at this point.

There were no declarations of interest.

Argyll and Bute Integration Joint Board held on 28 May 2025

The Minutes of the meeting of the Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board held on 28 May 2025 were approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Argyll and Bute HSCP Strategic Planning Group held on 12 June 2025 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Argyll and Bute HSCP Audit and Risk Committee held on 20 June 2025 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Argyll and Bute HSCP Finance and Policy Committee held on 24 June 2025 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Argyll and Bute HSCP Clinical and Care Governance Committee held on 14 August 2025 were noted.

The Minutes of the meeting Argyll and Bute HSCP Strategic Planning Group held on 21 August 2025 were noted.

Report by Chief Officer

The Board gave consideration to a report from the Chief Officer providing an update on activity across the Health and Social Care Partnership since the last report to the Board in May 2025.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board noted the report from the Chief Officer.

(Reference: Report by Chief Officer dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

Reports by Head of Finance

The Board gave consideration to a report providing a summary of the financial performance for the 2024/25 year.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board –

1.     noted that the HSCP overspent its budget by £1.8m;

2.     noted that the overspend related to Older Adult Social Care budgets;

3.     noted the HSCP had utilised all of the available £3.05m in pension fund savings to fund its overspending;

4.     noted that general reserves had reduced from £7.8m to £2.6m with total reserves increasing by £0.9m to £20.7m; and

5.     noted savings of £5.1m had been delivered, 77% of target.

(Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

The Board gave consideration to a report providing an early indication of financial performance for the first four months of the 2025/26 financial year.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board –

1.     noted that the HSCP was reporting that it had overspent its budget by £1.5m as at month four;

2.     noted an overspend of £1.5m was forecast and that management were working to bring spend back in line with budget;

3.     noted recovery restrictions remained in place; and

4.     noted savings of £4.9m had been delivered, 56% of target.

(Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

Fiona Broderick left the meeting during consideration of the following item of Business.

The Board gave consideration to an updated budget outlook for the 2026/27 financial year and the following two years.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board –

1.     noted the budget outlook for 2026/27 to 2028/29 and noted the risk and uncertainty in respect of funding settlements;

2.     noted the forecast budget gap of £18.2m for 2026/27;

3.     noted that work on the savings plan was continuing in partnership with the Council and NHS Highland;

4.     noted the scale of service reduction that was likely to be required to achieve financial balance;

5.     noted that oversight of the budget process would continue to be undertaken by the Finance and Policy Committee; and

6.     noted that expenditure control measures and financial recovery actions continue to be implemented.

(Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

Report by Head of Finance

The Board gave consideration to a report providing an opportunity to review the Strategic Risk Register.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board –

1.     noted that the Strategic Risk Register had been reviewed by the Leadership Team and the Audit and Risk Committee;

2.     reviewed and approved the Strategic Risk Register and Risk Appetite; and

3.     noted that a Board Development session to review the Risk Appetite had been scheduled for November 2025.

(Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

The Chair ruled and the Board agreed to re-order the Business and to take items 9 and 10 of the agenda before item 8 to allow the opportunity for the Deputy Director of People to join the meeting to present the report.

Report by Chief Social Work Officer

The Board gave consideration to a report presenting the Chief Social Work Officer report for the year 2024/2025

Decision

The Integration Joint Board –

1.     noted the content of the Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report 2024/2025;

2.     noted the key activities outlined in the Chief Social Work Officer Report 2024/2025;

3.     acknowledged the continued commitment of Social Work and Social Care staff in the delivery of services; and

4.     noted that the Report would be submitted to the Office of the Child Social Work Adviser to the Scottish Government.

(Reference: Report by Chief Social Work Officer dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

Report by Chief Social Work Officer

The Board gave consideration to a report presenting the Child Poverty Action Plan Review for the year 2024/2025.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board noted the content of the Child Poverty Action Plan Review 2024/2025.

(Reference: Report by Chief Social Work Officer dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

The Chair, on behalf of the Board noted that Mandy Sheridan, Service Improvement Officer, would shortly be retiring and it was likely that this would be the last time she would attend the Board to present. He thanked her for all her work on the preparation of the Child Poverty Action Plan Review this year and in previous years.

Report by Deputy Director of People

The Board gave consideration to a report detailing the workforce data of the Health and Social Care Partnership as at 30 June 2025; providing the current demographic position, highlighting trends and advising of changes and progress made, as well as actions taken to address the areas of concern.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board noted the content of the submitted report.

(Reference: Report by Deputy Director of People dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

The Chair ruled, and the Board agreed, to adjourn the meeting from 3.20pm to 3.30pm for a comfort break.

Report by Head of Finance and Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a broad community and professional response to the information collated from the public consultation on proposed changes to the delivery of Care at Home services.

The Board were advised that the Finance and Policy Committee held on 16 September 2025 had considered the report and had recommended to the Board that the that the number of hours per week Care at Home threshold be set at 28 hours.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board –

1.     noted the report;

2.     agreed the recommendation from the Finance and Policy Committee that the number of hours per week Care at Home threshold be set at 28 hours;

3.     approved the policy proposal based on the threshold being reviewed annually noting a requirement for the Integration Joint Board to support an option;

4.     noted the risk in year if an option was not supported;

5.     noted the potential for increased risk to care delivery/unpaid carers for those with highest need that required to be monitored; and

6.     noted the supplementary actions generated by the consultation.

(Reference: Report by Head of Finance and Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

Report by Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology

The Board gave consideration to a report presenting the consultation copy of the draft Joint Strategic Plan 2026-2031 for approval.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board –

1.     approved the draft Joint Strategic Plan 2026-2031 for public consultation; and

2.     endorsed the consultation and communication plan.

(Reference: Report by Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

Report by Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology

The Board gave consideration to a report presenting the Draft Annual Performance Report for the Health and Social Care Partnership for the year 2024/25 which set out how the Health and Social Care Partnership was improving on the National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board approved the Draft Annual Performance Report for the Health and Social Care Partnership for the year 2024/25.

(Reference: Report by Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

Report by Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology

The Board gave consideration to a report detailing performance of the Health and Social Care partnership for Financial Quarter Four 2024/25 with the performance outcomes being taken from the Integrated Performance Management Framework.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board –

1.     acknowledged performance for FQ4 2024/25 (January – March 2025);

2.     acknowledged the performance update on the National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes and Ministerial Steering Group Integration Indicators (Appendix 1); and

3.     noted the Delayed Discharge Sitrep as of 31 March 2025 (Appendix 2).

(Reference: Report by Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

Report by Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology

The Board gave consideration to a report providing an update on the review of the Health and Social Care Integration Scheme 2025.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board –

1.     noted the proposed revisions detailed within the updated Integration Scheme at appendix 1 to the submitted report and the summary revisions document at appendix 2 to the submitted report, as approved by Argyll and Bute Council and NHS Highland Board at their meetings held in June/July 2025;

2.     noted the arrangements that had been put in place for the joint consultation exercise as set out at section 3.4 of the submitted report and the Consultation and Engagement Strategy at appendix 3 to the submitted report; and

3.     noted that a further update would be reported to the Integration Joint Board following the conclusion of the consultation exercise.

(Reference: Report by Interim Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

Report by Head of Customer and Support Services

The Board gave consideration to a report presenting revised arrangements for Head of Service Recruitment Panel Membership for the Health and Social Care Partnership.

Decision

The Integration Joint Board approved the revised arrangements for Head of Service Recruitment Panel Membership.

(Reference: Report by Head of Customer Support Services dated 17 September 2025, submitted)

Wednesday 19 November 2025 in the Civic Centre, Helensburgh and by Microsoft Teams

The date of the next meeting was noted as Wednesday 19 November 2025 and it was noted that the next meeting would take place in the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre.