Democracy Spraffa

ITEM 13 Risk Update

North Lanarkshire Council · 19 March 2025
Back to Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board — 19 March 2025 and its agenda

Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.

Original council PDF · Download plain text

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REPORT 
Item No: Item 13. 
SUBJECT: Risk Management Report
TO: Integration Joint Board Committee
Lead
Officer for
Report:
Claire Rae, NL HSCP Chief Officer
Author(s) of
Report
Morag Dendy, Chief Officer / Head of Service (Performance,
Planning, and Quality Assurance)
DATE: 19 March 2025 
1. PURPOSE OF REPORT 
This paper is coming to the IJB for: 
For approval ☒ For endorsement ☐ To note ☐ 
2. ROUTE TO THE BOARD 
This paper has been: 
Prepared By: ☒ Reviewed By: ☐ Endorsed By: ☐ 
Morag Dendy, Chief Officer / Head of Service (Performance, Planning and Quality
Assurance)

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3. RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1 The IJB is asked to note the contents of the presentation which includes a
review of the highest rated risks within the IJB risk register and a note of those
operational risks highlighted by the Heath & Social Care North Lanarkshire
partnership that impact upon delivery of IJB business.
3.2 The IJB may wish to consider the inclusion of climate change risk to the IJB
risk register to align risk sharing across parent organisations. 
4.  VARIATIONS TO DIRECTIONS? 
5. BACKGROUND/SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES
5.1 From a good practice and sound governance perspective, all public bodies
are required to identify and take account of the impact of any potential risks in
delivering their business.
5.2 The IJB PFA Committee has delegated oversight and responsibility for
financial and performance risks associated with the remit of the Integration
Joint Board.
5.3 The following risk are currently rated as Very High on the IJB risk register.
• IJB 06/21 – Prescribing Activity and Costs
• IJB 01/21 – Financial Challenges
• IJB 21/24- Pharmacy Pressures within Prison Services 
5.4 The following risks are rated high on the IJB risk register.
• IJB 04/21 - Notional Set Aside Budget
• IJB 12/21 - Staff Health & wellbeing
• IJB 15/22 – Cost of Living
• IJB 16/22 – National Care Service
• IJB 19/23 – Service Sustainability
• IJB 20/23 – Workforce Sustainability
• IJB 12/22 – Unscheduled Care
Yes  ☐ No ☒ N/A ☐

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• IJB 23/24- Speech and Language Therapy 
5.5 The High/Very High rated operational risks that have been identified as having
or potentially having an impact on IJB objectives and/or delivery of services
are highlighted within the Risk Overview Dashboard (Appendix 1) and Risk
Register (Appendix 2). 
6. CONCLUSIONS
6.1 The IJB currently has 19 risks identified on its IJB risk register with 11 risks
rated as high or very high.
6.2 Risks identified by H&SC NL as potentially impacting on IJB business are
highlighted in the report. 
7. IMPLICATIONS 
7.1 NATIONAL OUTCOMES
Link(s) to National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes 
People are able to look after and improve their own health and wellbeing
and live in good health for longer 
☐
People, including those with disabilities or long-term conditions, or who are
frail, are able to live, as far as reasonable practicable, independently and at
home or in a homely setting in their community
☐
People who use Health and Social Care Services have positive
experiences of those services, and have dignity respected
☐
Health and Social Care Services are centred on helping to maintain or
improve the quality of life of people who use those services 
☐
Health and Social Care Services contribute to reducing health inequalities  ☐
People who use Health and Social Care Services are safe from harm ☐
People who work in Health and Social Care Services feel engaged with the
work they do and are supported to continuously improve the information,
support, care and treatment they provide
☐
Resources are used effectively and efficiently in the provision of Health and
Social Care Services 
☐
7.2 ASSOCIATED MEASURE(S)

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7.3 FINANCIAL 
This paper has been reviewed by Finance: 
7.4 RISK ASSESSMENT/RISK MANAGEMENT 
Relevant Risk Register
Details 
Current Risk Level  Risk Owner 
Choose an item. 
7.5  ENGAGEMENT & PARTICPATION
Please tick the engagement and participation objectives that link(s) with this piece of
work and provide further details regarding the engagement and participation that was
undertaken.
Objectives  Further Details 
☐ Involve stakeholders in the development
work aimed at achieving the national 
outcomes 
☐ Provide stakeholders with information on
how to get involved 
☐ Ensure a diverse range of engagement
and participation and opportunities are in 
place to suit different needs 
☐ Measure how well we involve community
stakeholders in the planning, design 
and delivery of our services 
☐ Provide regular feedback on how
stakeholder engagement and participation is 
shaping and influencing service
development and delivery 
☐ Provide support to enable stakeholder
representatives to participate meaningfully
and confidently at meetings 
☐ Develop participation guidelines to
ensure a common understanding and set of 
expectations for both stakeholders and
partnership staff 
Yes  ☒ No ☐ N/A ☐

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☐ Support engagement planning and
participation in localities, taking account of 
other engagement activity and local plans
across the Community Planning 
Partnership 
7.6 INEQUALITIES & FAIRER SCOTLAND DUTY 
EQIA Completed & Fairer Scotland Impact Assessment Form Completed and
attached to report: 
EQIA added to website: 
8. BACKGROUND PAPERS   
9. APPENDICES
Please include a glossary of terms if not already included. 
Appendix 1 – Risk Overview Dashboard
Appendix 2 – Risk Register 
.
Yes  ☐ No ☐ N/A ☒
Yes /
Date
added 
☐ No ☐ N/A ☒

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6 
CHIEF ACCOUNTABLE OFFICER (or Depute)   
Members seeking further information about any aspect of this report, please contact
the following;

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7 
Direction from North Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board (IJB) 
1 Reference Number  
2 Report Title  
3 Date direction issued by IJB 
4 Date from which direction
takes effect 
5 Direction to: 
6 Does this direction
supersede, revise or revoke a
previous direction – if yes,
include reference number(s) 
7 Functions covered by
direction 
8 Full text of direction 
9 Budget allocated by
Integration Joint Board to
carry out direction 
10 Performance Management /
Governance arrangements 
11 Date direction will be
reviewed

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NL H&SCP Risk Overview Report
Meeting Name – IJB
Reporting Period: IJB Risk Register – March 
2025

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NL HSCP IJB Risk  – Dashboard March 2025
Executive Summary
Risk
Register
Number
of Risks
IJB 19
NL Council 21
NHS
Lanarkshire
21
Risk movement since last report
No Change Increase Decrease New Closed Riskswith
updated
actions
0 0 19
Risk Score Trend
IJB06/21 PrescribingActivityand Costs VH
IJB.01/21 Financial Challenges VH
IJB.21/24
Pharmacy Pressures within Prison Service
VH
IJB Highest Scoring Risks
NL H&SCP Risks Reported to Assurance
Committees 
Service risks- Service level
Level 3- North Health
Professional/ Operational
Group and Support Care
and Clinical Governance
IJB Risk Register – IJB and
IJB PFA Level 2- Core
Risk Overview
Process NL
H&SCP

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Risk in Focus –Pharmacy Pressures within
Prison Service  
Risk Description Risk Owner Risk Lead
Pharmacy costs have traditionally been the highest area of non-pay
spend nationally in all prisons. The nature of the patient cohort
results in high volumes of prescribed medication for Mental Health,
Pain, & Addictions purposes. There is currently a large overspend
(559K reported May 2024) for the actual drugs bought and £246K
associated with the management fees for the contract.
MT CR
Current Controls
CONTROLS
• Reviewofthedispenseprocesseswithintheprison
• Implementationofguidelines
• Improvedcommunicationwithpharmacyprovider
Actions
ACTIONS
• PrescribingActionGroupre‐establishedtotryandmanagethenumberofitemsprescribed
• Developmentofpainandmedicinemanagementpathways
• Reviewofprescribinghabits
Risk Trend
FollowingthePrisonerHealthcareReportpresentedto IJB
PFAonthe 22nd May 2024. The IJB PFArecommendedthat
a PharmacyPressurewithinPrisonServiceRisk wasadded
to therisk register.
Target‐
Low
Current –
Veru
High

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Risk in Focus –Financial Challenges
Risk Description Risk Owner Risk Lead
Financial Challenges
There are a range of financial challenges which will impact on the
IJB's ability to deliver the Strategic Commissioning Plan intentions
within the financial envelope available. These include: NS NS
Current Controls
CONTROLS
1. IJB PFA Committee.
2. IJB Chief Officer is a member of each partner's key decision-making forums.
3. Effective joint working between North and South Chief Financial Officer and both Council and NHS Finance Departments.
4. Regular budget meetings with Chief Executives and Directors of Finance.
5. Regular HSCP budget monitoring meetings across Senior Leadership Team.
6. The IJB Financial Plans have been agreed and are reviewed regularly.
7. IJB medium term financial plan 2023-26 and reserves strategy 2023-24 approved at March 23 IJB
8. Capacity plans in place to maximise efficiency.
9. IJB Integration Scheme setting out the budget recovery processes.
10. IJB Financial Regulations and financial procedures.
11. Consultation and involvement with key stakeholders including service users and carers.
12. Prescribing Quality and Efficiency Programme, SWEG, ARG and Home Support monitoring groups are in place.
13. Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and ongoing move towards preventative and anticipatory approaches.
13. Strategic Planning Group, Locality engagement sessions and Partnership Boards.
14. Effective and ongoing service user engagement, staff consultation and Trade Union liaison at strategic and local levels.
Actions
ACTIONS
1. Annual budget setting processes within each of the partners.
2. HSCP participating in NHSL Sustainability and Value process
3. Partnership will also be connected to new national whole system groups around budget
Risk Trend No Movement
Increasing financial pressures have resulted in no
movement of the risk rating for this risk.
Further controls and actions are currently being reviewed
Target‐
Medium
Current –
Very
High

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Risk in Focus –Prescribing Activity and
Costs
Risk Description Risk Owner Risk Lead
The cost of prescribing is growing due to issues in supply chains driving
increased wholesaler cost of medicines, advance treatment developments
resulting in the need for more expensive medications, aging population and
increase in patients requiring regular medication. Medication availability has
been impacted following the EU withdrawal the UK 's membership of the
common regulatory bodies and EU agencies, such as the European Medicines
Agency, (EMA), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the
European Atomic Energy Community. The risk is that this could impact on the
availability of medicines, healthcare techniques and technology and in respect
of the supply of medicines and medical devices, additional checks are now
required at ports in the UK and the EEA before goods, including medical
products, can cross the border. New customs checks are required when moving
medicines between the EEA and the UK.
CR NS
Current Controls
1. Prescribing Quality and Efficiency Programme.
2. Prescribing Management Board functions and membership.
3. Deputy Lead Pharmacist supporting HSCP Senior Leadership Team.
4. Locality Pharmacist input.
5. Earmarked reserve established to address prescribing costs.
6. Regular HSCP monitoring. In respect of the regulation of medicines and medical devices, the Medicines and Healthcare productsRegulatory Agency (MHRA) became the UK’s sovereign regulator.
7. The new trade deal contains specific clauses that mean both the UK and EEA states formally recognise each other’s good practice in medicine manufacturing.
8. To reduce the risk of divergence from the EU rules, there are three interrelated factors; the technical annexes of the new tradedeal, the Northern Ireland protocol and the UK Internal Market Act.
9. The effectiveness of the Border Operating Model to import and export goods to and from the EEA, which was being implemented in stages from 2020 to minimise any risk of disruption, is still being assessed. The risk of border delays is still evident. Other measures were also implemented specifically to mitigate the risk of supplies of medicines and medical devices being disrupted. In August 2020 the UK government instructed medicine suppliers to maintain a stockpile equivalent to six weeks’ supply though the first three months of 2021. In addition, the Department of Transport has secured additional freight capacity to bring medicines into the country via other routes
Actions
1. Review of Locality Prescribing Action Groups.
2. Prescribing part of NHSL Sustainability and Value structures
3. Continuation of Scriptswitch.
4. Prescribing updates being provided to IJB as per financial reports
Risk Trend No movement
Consider any still ongoing, however good
progress has been made regarding achievement
of the prescribing target for 2024-25 
Target‐
Low
Current –
Very
High

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Financial Challenges CONTROLS Previously IJB2, IJB7, IJB10 and
IJB12.
There are a range of financial challenges which will impact on the
IJB's ability to deliver the Strategic Commissioning Plan intentions
within the financial envelope available. These include:
HIGH 1.     IJB PFA Committee.
Reviewed and Updated May
2023. Reviewed and Updated
Sept 2023.
2.     IJB Chief Officer is a member of each partner's key decision-making forums.
1.  The absence of a unique IJB financial settlement from the
Scottish Government.
3.     Effective joint working between North and South Chief Financial Officer and both
Council and NHS Finance Departments. Reviewed and updated Jan 2024.
2.  The IJB is dependent on funding from both partners. 4.     Regular budget meetings with Chief Executives and Directors of Finance.
3.  Late Scottish Government financial settlement. 5.     Regular HSCP budget monitoring meetings across Senior Leadership Team. Reviewed and updated March
2024.
4.  Budget reductions due to insufficient Scottish Government
financial settlements and/or partner contributions. 6.     The IJB Financial Plans have been agreed and are reviewed regularly.
5.  New Scottish Government policy commitments e.g. Carers
(Scotland) Act 2016.
7.     IJB medium term financial plan 2023-26 and reserves strategy 2023-24 approved
at March 23 IJB
Review and risk increased June
2024.
6.  Demographic growth. 8.     Capacity plans in place to maximise efficiency.
7.  Competing service priorities. 9.     IJB Integration Scheme setting out the budget recovery processes. Reviewed and no changes Sept
2024
8.  Conflicting partner efficiency savings programs which adversely
impact on the HSCP's ability to deliver services. 10.   IJB Financial Regulations and financial procedures.
9.  In-year cost pressures emerging due to the underachievement
of planned savings, pandemics and other emerging risks which
may lead to an overspend.
11.   Consultation and involvement with key stakeholders including service users and
carers.
Review and updated Oct 2024
10.  Each partner may be unable to maintain their financial
contributions to the IJB in future years which would impact on
frontline health and social care services.
12.   Prescribing Quality and Efficiency Programme, SWEG, ARG and Home Support
monitoring groups are in place.
Reviewed and no changes March
2025
11.  The agreed transformational plans and service redesigns are
not implemented in full and in line with the original
implementation plan and/or do not secure the intended
improvement outcomes in both performance standards and
financial efficiency targets.
13.   Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and ongoing move towards preventative and
anticipatory approaches.
12.  Future savings targets will continue to be challenging and
are likely to impact on essential core services. 13.   Strategic Planning Group, Locality engagement sessions and Partnership Boards.
13.  The IJB Financial Plan cannot be adhered to and budget
recovery plans fail to achieve financial balance for both partners.
14.   Effective and ongoing service user engagement, staff consultation and Trade
Union liaison at strategic and local levels.
14. The continuing recovery from the pandemic on the financial
sustainability of external providers in particular social care
providers.
15. The financial implications of the continuing impact of the
pandemic on the workforce e.g. increase in sickness absence, early
retirement requests and recruitment challenges.
ACTIONS
1.    Annual budget setting processes within each of the partners.
The above factors would lead to a failure to achieve the desired
strategic aims and would also impact on service delivery. 2.    HSCP participating in NHSL Sustainability and Value process
3.    Partnership will also be connected to new national whole system groups around
budget
4.    Review the Audit Scotland Bulletin released on the 6 March 2025
Prevention and Detection of Fraud, Bribery and/or Corruption CONTROLS
There is a risk that the IJB is unable to prevent and detect fraud and
corruption within services because of inadequate governance
arrangements and inadequate internal control systems which could lead
to financial and reputational damage.
LOW 1.  Fraud awareness e-learning.
2.  National Fraud initiative. Reviewed and Updated Oct 2023,
3.  Locality/SW Enablement Groups. (previously title ineffective
governance arrangements).
IJB.01/ 21 Financial
Strategic
01/04/2021
VERY HIGH
Medium
Nicola Scott
Nicola Scott
SLT, IJB PFA, IJB
31.01.2024
Risk
level
(Target)
Risk
Owner
Risk
Register
Lead
Assuran
ce
Source
Next
Review
Date
Closed
DateIJB ID Category
Opened
Date Description of Risk Mitigating Controls
Risk
level
(Current
Risk
level
(Initial)
Previously IJB6. Reviewed and
updated on March 2023.

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4.  Segregation of duties in relation to authorising and processing direct payments. 5 Whistle
blowing policies.
6.  Procurement processes and standing orders.
7.  Oversight via NLC Audit and Scrutiny Panel and NHSL Audit Committee. Reviewed and No changes Sept 2024
8.  Effective governance arrangements are in place and subject to internal and external audit
review.
9.  IJB and IJB PFA meetings established ensuring effective oversight of financial performance. Reviewed and no changes Oct 2024
10.  The IJB does not maintain its own policies relating to the prevention and detection of fraud and
error but instead depends on those in place at its partnerbodies. The IJB has a Code of Conduct in
place to which members subscribe and the Members’ Registers of Interests are publicly available on
the IJB’s website
Reviewed and no changes March
2025
ACTIONS
1. Continue to raise fraud awareness through teambriefings.
2. Annual planned Procurement and Standing Financial Instructions presentations.
3. Annual review of Code of Conduct
4. Review of how Members' Declaration of Interests are collated and reviewed.
5. IJB to request Fraud prevention and detection reports from both partners for oversight at the IJB
PFA.
Notional Set‐Aside Budget CONTROLS
VERY HIGH
2.There is complete transparency and ongoing dialogue between the IJB and the Health Board on
the challenges associated with the implementation of the notional set-aside concept.
3.  Bed modelling and capacity planning arrangements are in place.
4. Effective working relationships between both partners and the IJB have been established.
5.  Since the inception of the IJB, an agreement is in place whereby the NHSL Health Board will
manage the overspend or underspend across the notional set-aside budget. This arrangement
continues to be in place for 2022/23
ACTIONS
1.The Chief Officer and the Chief Financial Officer continue to raise this concern at a national level.
Reviewed July 2024.
Reviewed Sept 2024
Reviewed Oct 2024 and no changes
(awaiting SG info)
2. Discussions ongoing with NHSL Director of Finance around unscheduled care spend in 2023/24
and budget for 2024/25
Reviewed March 2025
Hosted Services CONTROLSVERY HIGH
1. North and South IJBs aim to co-operate to ensure a pan-Lanarkshire approach is achieved across
all hosted services.
2.  Financial and budgetary controls.
3.  Performance reports on service delivery.
4.  The Hosted Services principles in respect of the management of the overspends and
underspends are agreed for each financial year. Reviewed Sept 2024
Reviewed Oct 2024 and no updates
Reviewed March 2025
Prescribing Activity and Costs CONTROLS
IJB02. 21 Financial
Reputational
01/04/2021
LOW
LOW
Claire Rae
Nicola Scott
SLT, IJB PFA, IJB
31.01.2025
Nicola Scott
HIGH
MEDIUM
Claire Rae
MEDIUM
Claire Rae
IJB04. 21 Financial Strategic
01/04/2021
There is a risk that resources will not be transferred from Acute Services
to the HSCP in line with the shift in the balance of care from residential
and acute settings to community based alternatives as expected in terms
of the notional set-aside concept. This includes the ongoing development
of locality pathways to support maintaining people at home e.g.
transitional care models.
Reviewed May 2024
Reviewed and Updated May 2023.
Reviewed Oct 2023.
Reviewed Jan 2024
Reviewed May 2024
l  d d
SLT, IJB PFA, IJB
31.01.2025
MEDIUM
Reviewed May 2024
Reviewed July 2024
Nicola Scott
SLT, IJB PFA, IJB
31.01.2025
There is a risk of dispute between the North Lanarkshire IJB and the South
Lanarkshire IJB in respect of the financial allocations underpinning the
Hosted Services particularly as a result of the budget changes linked to
the implementation of devolved locality models. This could impact on the
ability of each IJB to achieve its commissioning intentions and may also
have an adverse impact on service users across Lanarkshire.
01/04/2021
Financial StrategicIJB05. 21

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Medium 1.. Prescribing Quality and Efficiency Programme.
2.  Prescribing Management Board functions and membership.
3. Deputy Lead Pharmacist supporting HSCP Senior Leadership Team.
4. Locality Pharmacist input.
5. Earmarked reserve established to address prescribing costs.
6. Regular HSCP monitoring.In respect of the regulation of medicines and medical devices, the
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) became the UK’s sovereign
regulator.
7. The new trade deal contains specific clauses that mean both the UK and EEA states formally
recognise each other’s good practice in medicine manufacturing.
Reviewed July 2024.
8. To reduce the risk of divergence from the EU rules, there are three interrelated factors; the
technical annexes of the new trade deal, the Northern Ireland protocol and the UK Internal Market
Act.
Reviewed Sept 2024
Reviewed October 2024 no changes
Reviewed March 2025
ACTIONS
1. Review of Locality Prescribing Action Groups.
2. Prescribing part of NHSL Sustainability and Value structures
3. Continuation of Scriptswitch.
4. Prescribing updates being provided to IJB as per financial reports
Third and Voluntary Sector CONTROLSHIGH 1. Third Sector Interface represented on key strategic groups.
2. Community capacity building and carer support infrastructure embedded across North
Lanarkshire.
3. Community capacity building is regularly reviewed.
4. Maximising funding opportunities for the third and voluntary sector will continue to be
progressed.
Reviewed July 2024
Reviewed and no changes Sept 2024
ACTIONS Reviewed March 2025
1.The annual HSCP funding which is directed to the third sector is recurring funding. Funding will be
confirmed each year in line with the agreement of the IJB Financial Plan and subject to the Scottish
Government financial settlements for future years.
2. Updated SLA with VANL nearing completion
Ineffective Governance Arrangements CONTROLS1.   There is a risk that the intensity of the required response to Covid-19
may have resulted in a failure of governance impacting on the
effectiveness of the IJB decision-making, IJB directions to partners and IJB
oversight of operational service delivery Routine governance processes
MEDIUM
1.฀National Networks are established which are providing the framework to support a national
approach where appropriate.
2.   New or amended legislation and Scottish and UK Government
guidance may not be adopted effectively and timeously. 2.฀Public Health advice and support is in place.
3.   There is no / limited public access to IJB and PFA meetings during the
period of the pandemic, in line with Public Health advice. 3.฀Increased numbers of agile workers and increased number of laptops/tablets.
4.   Ineffective information governance controls could lead to data
breaches and an impact on the General Data Protection  Regulations.
4.฀Continued working from home arrangements supported by the roll out of MS Teams / Zooms.
Regular updates on the guidance for the use of MS Teams / Zoom Meetings is circulated. A blended
approach to home/work-based working is being developed going forward.
5. Communications with employees, patients and service users may be
ineffective.
5.฀Risk registers are in place for the IJB and each partner. Each partner has a specific HSCP Covid-19
Risk Register in place.
IJB06. 21 Financial
Operational
01/04/2021
VERY HIGH
LOW
Claire Rae
Nicola Scott
IJB.10. 21 Financial Strategic
01/04/20
LOW
LOW
Claire R
LOW
LOW
Claire Rae
Nicola Scott
The cost of prescribing is growing due to issues in supply chains driving
increased wholesaler cost of medicines, advance treatment developments
resulting in the need for more expensive medications, aging population
and increase in patients requiring regular medication. Medication
availability has been impacted following the EU withdrawal the UK 's
membership of the common regulatory bodies and EU agencies, such as
the European Medicines Agency, (EMA), European Centre for Disease
Prevention and Control and the European Atomic Energy Community. The
risk is that this could impact on the availability of medicines, healthcare
techniques and technology and in respect of the supply of medicines and
medical devices, additional checks are now required at ports in the UK
and the EEA before goods, including medical products, can cross the
border. New customs checks are required when moving medicines
between the EEA and the UK.
IJB07. 21 Financial Strategic
01/04/2021
There is a risk that Third Sector organisations in North Lanarkshire are
vulnerable because of the lack of certainty in respect of long-term funding
security. This uncertainty has the potential to lead to service instability,
recruitment and retention challenges and an increasing reliance on
statutory services.
Nicola Sc
SLT, IJB PFA
31.01.20
Previously IJB11. Reviewed and
updated June 2023.
Reviewed and Updated (risk
increased) October 2023.
Reviewed Jan 2024
SLT, IJB PFA, IJB
31.01.20259. The effectiveness of the Border Operating Model to import and export goods to and from the
EEA, which was being implemented in stages from 2020 to minimise any risk of disruption, is still
being assessed. The risk of border delays is still evident. Other measures were also implemented
specifically to mitigate the risk of supplies of medicines and medical devices being disrupted. In
August 2020 the UK government instructed medicine suppliers to maintain a stockpile equivalent to
six weeks’ supply though the first three months of 2021. In addition, the Department of Transport
has secured additional freight capacity to bring medicines into the country via other routes.
SLT, IJB PFA, IJB
Previously IJB16.
Reviewed April 2024.
Reviewed and updated Oct 2023.
Reviewed and updated Jan 2024.
Reviewed June 2024.
Reviewed and updated June 2023.
31.01.2025

Page 16

6.   There will require to be changes to the working environment including
remote working and working from home.
6.฀The IJB and both partners aim to comply with the European Working Time Directive (WTD) and
minimise the risk of all staff working beyond 48 hours per week, in particular front-line service
delivery. As a result of the withdrawal from the European Union, the WTD ceased to apply to the
United Kingdom at the end of the transition period (31 December 2020). However, the UK's
Working Time Regulations which implement the EU Working Time Directive will continue to apply
unless and until amended by UK law7.  There is a reduced ability to protect the wellbeing of employees,
patients and service users.
7.฀Back to Basics exercise has helped to focus on the underpinning governance requirements across
the whole HSCP
8. There may be adverse media coverage locally, a loss of public
confidence and reputational damage.
8. Staff health and wellbeing is a key priority for both partners and all key stakeholders.  The
commitment to staff health and wellbeing is being actively promoted through all available forums. Reviewed and no changes Sept 2024
9. IJB Governance reporting reviewed and associated documents updated. Review March 2025
10. Recent review of Internal Audit team programme of work and participation in the IJB.
11. Review of IJB / PFA self assessment session
Oversight of Performance Activity CONTROLS Reviewed May 2024.
LOW
Regular (quarterly) reports on the IJB performance framework, providing updates on areas for
improvement, remedial actions (and timescales) and updates on performance issues previously
reported.
Reviewed June 2024.
Chief Executive Performance Review arrangements. Hosted Services Performance Review
arrangements. Sector/Locality Performance Review arrangements. Reviewed and no changes Sept  2024
Review March 2025
Staff Health & Wellbeing CONTROLS Reviewed and Updated May 2023.
Strategic Staff Health & Wellbeing Committee established reporting to NLC & NHSL corporate
management teams. Reviewed and updated Dec 2023.
Range of support services available both nationally and locally e.g Occupational Health, Spiritual
care, Psychological Services, national wellbeing hub (www.PRoMIS.scot.uk).
Rest & Recuperation areas identified.
Peer Support Networks established Reviewed Sept 2024
Well established Occupational Health supports available to support staff sickness. Review March 2025
ACTIONS
Short Life Working Group for wellbeing with targeted approach for immediate actions including
Staff Health & Wellbeing Champions, access to online supports, access to Occupational Health
Services, helpline established and dedicated resource identified for wellbeing officers to be
recruited.
Funding received by Scottish Government specifically targeting staff wellbeing programmes and
supports. Local plans for use of funding being developed.
Managers supporting & encouraging staff to take planned leave/use full leave allocation
Care Homes CONTROLS
Establishment of Care Home Assurance Team.
Escalation Process in place.
National protocol to support discharge of Covid 19 patients in place.
Reviewed Sept 2024
ACTIONS Review March 2025
Public Health teams providing guidance on infection control.
Care Home assurance team undertaking support visits to all care homes & action plans in place for
each care home.
All care homes advised to use PPE in line with national addendum.
Development day on 12th May 23 to agree structures and approach for year ahead
CAMHS CONTROLS
Prioritisation of referrals; all referrals vetted daily with urgent referrals prioritised
Commenced programme of work and implementation of a more structured partnership approach
through Choices & Partnership Approach (CAPA) service model, with tier 1 & 2 referred through 3rd
sector and interfacing with North & South Education Departments
Secured significant national investment to fully implement new service model
Active review of skill mix to utilise medical staff only when required for highly complex patients
021 ae
30.08.21
IJB.13.
2021 Performance
IJB.11 21 Performance
30/07/2021
LOW
LOW
Inability of care homes to sustain service due to staffing and cost
pressures resulting in closure to new placement and closure of care
homes. This may increase delayed discharge numbers putting additional
pressure on acute site capacity and impacting on recovery.
medium
medium
IJB.12. 21 Performance
30/08/2021
HIGH
low
cott
A, IJB
025
31.01.2025
MEDIUM
HIGH
Claire Rae
Claire Rae
Claire Rae
There is a risk that the IJB is not provided with adequate or sufficient
performance information to enable it to discharge its scrutiny and
oversight role; make informed decisions and recommend remedial actions
to address any performance concerns.
There is a risk to the delivery of the Strategic Commissioning Plan as a
result of sustained pressures on staff availability due to additional
pressures associated with Covid 19, current sickness absence levels and
potential for further staff redeployment due to winter planning
contingency arrangements.
Reviewed and updated Oct 2023
Reviewed and Risk level lowered June
2024.
Reviewed May 2024.
Reviewed May 2024. .
Reviewed and Updated May 2023.
Reviewed and updated Dec 2023.
Reviewed and risk level lowered May
Morag Dendy
SLT, IJB PFA, IJB
31.01.2025
Joanne Jenkins
IJB, PF&A, SLT, SC&SC, A H &SC
31.01.2025
Claire Rae
SLT, IJB PFA, IJB, SC&CG, AH&SC

Page 17

Vacancy gap analysis with active recruitment commenced. Expected to have recruited 75% of gap by
end of May 2023
Continuous review and validation of the waiting list Reviewed and no changes Sept 2024
Waiting list validation exercise completed in April 2022 with reduction in list by 16% Reviewed and no change March 2025
CAPA appointments begin on 1st May 2023 - first cycle (16wks) nearing completion
Monthly monitoring at board
Incremental implementation of the new service model
Performance monitoring through the programme board
CAHMS IT Board in train to plan and oversee implementation of SCI gateway for referrals
Waiting list initiative commenced
Udston opened for patients September 2022
Upgrade to North physical infrastructure agreed.
Close working with health improvement and GP reps
Cost of Living CONTROLS
NLC Silver command group stood up focused on cost of living
NHSL commenced review through CMT
Population Health Committee to review activity around cost of living
NLC approved cost of living contract increases in May 2023
ACTIONS Reviewed Sept 2024
Survey of NLC hybrid workers to see if home working remains financially viable Reviewed March 2025
Business case being developed to expand 'support for people' arrangements used in pandemic to
support resident access to welfare rights and other supports
3% increase in individual budgets to support service users to maintain current levels of supports at
higher cost
Recommendation from adult social work, care and wellbeing committee to review all charges to
service users and wider cost.
National Care Service CONTROLS Reviewed and Updated May 2023.
NLC establishing NCS working groups
Key HSCP leads involved in national developments
Ongoing progress updates to IJB and IJB PFA
ACTIONS Reviewed Sept 2024
IJB response submitted on proposed Bill
Strong partnership links into working groups at Chief Officers, Chief Finance Officers and Social
Work Scotland groups
Reviewed Oct 2024 no changes
SG/COSLA working groups being established - local reps nominated for each Reviewed March 2025
National Advisory Group being established.
Unscheduled Care CONTROLS
Care Home Assurance Group and associated supports for care homes through liaison service, IPC
advice and support, risk assessment for onward movement of patients etc.
Care at Home Assurance group and associated activity to try to support and sustain independent
sector provision Reviewed Oct 2023
NHS CMT and Covid response group oversight of performance
Daily PDD meetings to review every planned supported discharge and delayed discharge Reviewed Jan 2024.
Reviewed and risk level reduced May
2024.
Expansion of Home Support service Reviewed Sept 2024
Roll out of Home Assessment Teams across all 6 Localities
New CSW roles in District Nursing teams to proactively support Care Managed patients Reviewed Oct 2024, no changes
Additional Nursing capacity in District Nursing Teams Reviewed March 2025
Expansion of Equipment and Adaptation Service to support rapid access in community
IJB.17.
2022
Strategic &
Performance
05.09.22
IJB.16.
2022 Strategic
05.09.22
Strategic &
Performance
30.04.22
IJB.15.
2022
Strategic &
Performance
05.09.22
High
Medium
Claire Rae
Operation Flow now underway to ensure whole system approach to unscheduled care/delayed
discharge challenges
There is a risk that we cannot sustain whole system patient flow through
peak winter pressures due to increased front door demand; hospital
workforce capacity; delays in onward movement of patients due to care
home capacity/outbreaks and care at home capacity; and community
health and social care workforce capacity leading to reduced ability to
meet 'routine' and increasing bed demand for more unwell patients,
deteriorating delayed discharge performance and an inability to recover
services.
There is a risk that the IJB's Strategic Commissioning Plan will be unable to
be delivered or not have the desired impact due to the cost of living rises
being faced by residents across North Lanarkshire, leading to a further
widening of the inequality gap, reduced quality of life and increased
health and social care demand due to individuals and families having
insufficient funds to support basic requirements such as food and
heating.
Medium
Medium
Claire Rae
There is a risk that the CAMHS service cannot meet the increasing clinical
demands due to a significantly high number of cumulative staff vacancies
for both clinical and non-clinical posts and challenges recruiting to new
posts identified through the national recovery and renewal fund. This is
impacting on community, in- patient and out- patient care with the
potential to adversely affect response time to referrals; longer waiting
times; poorer outcomes; delays in redesign and reputation of the IJB.
High
Medium
There is a risk that the ongoing work around a National Care Service could
destabilise current service delivery due to significant change activity, time
demands around the co-design process, staff uncertainty and partner
organisations having to focus inwardly due to the impact of change
leading to an impact on the ability to deliver the significant ongoing
change programmes already approved by the IJB and the Strategic
Commissioning Plan for 2023-26.
Claire Rae
High
Low
Diane Fraser
Reviewed and Updated May 2023.
2024.
Reviewed and Updated Oct 2023.
Reviewed and Updated May 2024
Reviewed Oct 2023.
Reviewed May 2024.
Claire Rae
SLT, IJB
31.01.2025
Claire Rae
SLT, IJB PFA, IJB
31.01.2025
Claire Rae
SLT, IJB PFA, IJB, ASW
C&W
B
31.01.2025
Reviewed and Updated in June 2023.
VERY HIGH
HIGH
HIGH
Very High
Morag Dendy
IJB,PF&A, SLT
31.01.2025
IJB.14.
2022

Page 18

Expansion of H@H service (hours of provision as well as moving to support discharges as well as
admission prevention)
Expansion of Integrated Rehabilitation Teams in all six Localities to support rehab in the community
and reduce long-term service demand
Regular Firebreaks across the system 
Task and Finish groups now established to roll out the key actions agreed through the Operation
Flow programme (Phase 2 to be completed by Sept 23)
Community Alarms CONTROLS
Working group established to coordinate all activity
Oversight through Home Support Programme Board
Reporting to Adult Social Work, Care and Wellbeing Committee
Reporting to IJB
Reviewed April 2024.
ACTIONS Reviewed Sept 2024
NLC Committee approval to purchase 1000 digital alarms so the service can support any imminent
changes over to digital in individual areas
Reviewed Oct 2024
NLC part of SG once for Scotland procurement process for a new digital alarm receiving center Reviewed March 2025
Communication out to all community alarm service users
Instructions issued to all community alarm service users on how to do test calls to ensure alarms
are operational
Engagement with telecommunication suppliers to ensure sight of roll out plans across NL
Service Sustainability CONTROLS
IJB PFA Committee.
High
Low
IJB Chief Officer is a member of each partner's key decision-making forums. Reviewed and Updated Oct 2023.
Effective joint working between Chief Financial Officer and both Council and NHS Finance
Departments. Reviewed and updated Jan 2024.
Regular budget meetings with Chief Executives and Directors of Finance.
Regular HSCP budget monitoring meetings across Senior Leadership Team.
The IJB Financial Plan is regularly reviewed and agreed. Reviewed Sept 2024
Capacity plans in place to maximize efficiency. Reviewed Oct 2024
Consultation and involvement with key stakeholders including service users and carers. Reviewed March 2025
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and ongoing move towards preventative and anticipatory
approaches.
Strategic Planning Group, Locality engagement sessions and Partnership Boards.
Effective and ongoing service user engagement, staff consultation and Trade Union liaison at
strategic and local levels.
ACTIONS
Sustainability plans to be reviewed regularly
Re-introduction of scrutiny panels
Improve linkage across all risk registers (tiers 1 to 3, council and NHS) to help ensure areas of
concern are identified and   reviewed regularly.
Review of reporting process into IJB to ensure continuous review of services/ service developments.
Development of the programme of work to ensure regular reporting structure in place for service
review.
Operation Flow Task and Finish Groups analyzing service challenges and implementing phased
changes to support winter    pressures and beyond.
Workforce Sustainability CONTROLS
All successful Health and Care Worker Visa applicants are exempt from the Immigration Health
Surcharge, a one-off charge levied against    arriving migrant workers as part of the visa application
process. The system has been designed to make international recruitment into health and  social
care roles more straightforward for employers and employees alike. These changes to immigration
rules are in law as part of the  Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act
2020. As such, from 1 January 2021, they apply to all workers arriving to work in  the NHS or adult
social care. All workers from EEA nations who are already resident in the UK had until 30 June 2021
to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme which will guarantee their right to work in the UK
indefinitely.
High
Medium Updated May 2023
In respect of the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, professional regulatory bodies
are working with the UK government to    review future registration requirements for those with
qualifications gained in the EEA and decide what they will be from January 2023.
Reviewed and updated Oct 2023.
31.01.2025
31.01
SLT, IJB PFA, IJB
Claire
Claire
SLT, IJB
Reviewed and Updated May 2023
It is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit to particular roles across
Health and Social Care.  Gaps in the workforce can result in reduction of
service provision, increase in staff workload and inability to deliver the
strategic plan. Following EU withdrawal there is no longer the free
movement of labour between the UK and EEA countries. All workers
arriving from the EEA and non-EEA countries are subject to the same
immigration rules.The new points-based immigration system makes
exceptions for the majority of health care professionals with an NHS job            
Claire Rae
Claire Rae
HIGIJB.20.
IJB.19.
2023
27/02/2023
HIGH
High
There is a risk that the community alarm system will be destabilised due
to the national change from analogue to digital telephony by 2025,
leading to community alarm users not getting a response when required.
Due to competing service priorities and workforce/ operational and
financial challenges there is a risk that the IJB will be unable to implement
the strategic plan/commission plan. Failure to achieve the desired
strategic aims of the IJB poses a risk on operational service delivery and
the achievement of financial balance and patient safety
Performance
31.01.2025
Claire Rae
SLT, IJB PFA, IJB, ASW
C&W
B
Reviewed April 2024.
Reviewed Oct 2023.
Reviewed Jan 2024.
Reviewed and updated June 2023.
IJB.18.
2022
Strategic and
Performance
05.09.22
Medium
Low
Diane Fraser

Page 19

Development of the Care Academy
Dedicated HR support identified in NHSL and NLC to support key priority areas of recruitment such
as Mental Health and Home Support
ACTIONS
Annual workforce plan being prepared
NHSL programme underway to support international recruitment
On the day recruitment events being trialed in Home Support
Use of university status being explored following positive gains in Podiatry and Psychological
Therapies recruitment
Reviewed Sept 2024
Recruitment of 15 Modern Apprenticeships within the H&SCP working within Business Admin,
Comms and Health Care Support.
Reviewed March 2025
Pharmacy Pressures within Prison Service CONTROLS
Review of the dispense processes within the prison
Implementation of guidelines
Improved communication with pharmacy provider
ACTIONS
Prescribing Action Group re-established to try and manage the number of items prescribed
Development of pain and medicine management pathways
Review of prescribing habits
Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service CONTROLS
1. ฀Good communication processes, and the sharing of information and practical learning online
have been established and will be further developed as service improvement work progresses. Added to the register August 2024.
2. Service model review to ensure that future TrakCare builds on local learning and builds on
organisational learning from other builds. Forward planning for inclusion in the AHP Hub model will
proceed in parallel to these TrakCare developments. Reviewed Oct 2024
3. Revised workforce planning, incorporating the best-practice and learning from other areas who
have specialist children’s health services units. Reviewed March 2025
4. The professional relationships between service and university have already been improved and
we have academic representation that actively contributes to both our Workforce Planning and
Service Improvement Steering Group.
ACTIONS
1. Working with university colleagues to identify new practitioners who have expressed their desire
to work in Lanarkshire on registration. This allows us to maximise and enhance opportunities for
placement, improvement projects and induction planning, ensuring that we present ourselves as an
area that is not only welcoming but committed to the ongoing development of individuals and the
service
2. Work with professional colleagues to ensure that all activity is aligned to direct and/or indirect
pursuit of meeting the SLT waiting time target.
3. Transition from restrictive locality models for managing the waiting list.
IJB PFA, IJB
31.01.2025
Claire Rae
IJB PFA, IJB
31.01.2025
.2025
e Rae
e Rae
PFA, IJB
Financial
Reviewed April 2024.
Added to register June 2024 and
reviewed Sept 2024
Reviewed March 2025
Reviewed and updated Jan 24
IJB23.24 Performance Jul-24
There is a risk that the SLT service cannot meet the increasing clinical
demands with variance in waiting list length by area, continued challenges
around the recrutiment and retention of new colleagues, funding streams
from Local Authority being reduce therefore reducing staff WTE.
IJB21.24
Pharmacy costs have traditionally been the highest area of non-pay spend
nationally in all prisons. The nature of the patient cohort results in high
volumes of prescribed medication for Mental Health, Pain, & Addictions
purposes. There is currently a large overspend (559K reported May 2024)
for the actual drugs bought and £246K associated with the management
fees for the contract.
offer and for qualified social workers via a new fast-track visa route,
known as the Health and Care Worker Visa. There are however no
exceptions made for other social care roles, such as care workers.The
Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive is an EU-wide
directive that allows professional regulators in all member states to
automatically recognise professional qualifications. The UK government
has decided to continue recognising qualifications gained in the EEA for at
least two years after the transition period ends. This however is not a
reciprocal and there is no guarantee that qualifications gained in the UK
will be accepted by professional regulators in EEA nations.
High
High
Low
Claire Rae
Claire Rae
Jun-24
High
Very High
Low
Claire Rae
GH2023