Review of the Integration Scheme 2025
Argyll and Bute Council · 26 March 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 26 March 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 Classification: OFFICIAL INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD Date of Meeting: 26th March 2025 Title of Report: Review of the Integration Scheme 2025 Presented by: Douglas Hendry, IJB Standards Officer The Integration Joint Board is asked to: • Note the requirement for a review of the current Integration Scheme to be carried out by 23rd March 2026. • Note the proposed steps in respect of carrying out the review, including the formation of a working group. • Note that further updates in respect of the review will be prepared for future meetings of Argyll and Bute Council, IJB and NHS Highland Board. 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to advise IJB members of the requirement to review the Health and Social Care Integration Scheme (the Scheme) and the proposed steps to achieve this. 1.2 In line with the provisions of section 44 of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 a review of the Integration Scheme between Argyll and Bute Council and NHS Highland requires to be completed and ready for submission to Scottish Ministers no later than 23rd March 2026, or a decision taken by the partner bodies that no changes are necessary to the current scheme by that date. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 Note the requirement for a review of the current Integration Scheme to be carried out by 23rd March 2026. 2.2 Note the proposed steps in respect of carrying out the review, including the formation of a working group. 2.3 Note that further updates in respect of the review will be prepared for future meetings of Argyll and Bute Council, IJB and NHS Highland Board. 3. DETAIL OF REPORT 3.1 The legal requirement to complete a review of an Integration Scheme is set out in Section 44 of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act
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2 Classification: OFFICIAL 2014 (the Act). The Scheme must be reviewed each subsequent period of 5 years beginning with the day on which the Scheme was approved, in this case 23rd March 2021. 3.2 On this basis a review of the Scheme is required by law to be completed by 23rd March 2026. The statutory responsibility to review the Scheme sits with the Board of NHS Highland and Argyll and Bute Council. 3.3 Drawing on the approach adopted for the previous review of the Scheme, which was undertaken in 2019/20, a Working Group has been established to determine and agree any revisions required to the Scheme. The Working Group includes Senior Officer representation from across the Council, Argyll and Bute HSCP, and NHS Highland. An initial meeting was held on 11 March 2025 and the Group have begun the process of identifying potential areas for change. 3.4 Once the Working Group have completed their review of the Scheme over the coming months, a further report will be prepared for the Council, IJB and NHS Highland Board to seek agreement on any proposed changes put forward. If both partner bodies are agreeable to any proposed amendments, there is then a requirement to undertake a formal consultation exercise in accordance with Section 46(4) of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014. The Council and the Health Board must jointly consult with groups and individuals, to include prescribed stakeholders, and any others deemed appropriate. 3.5 In the event that a formal consultation exercise is required, the Working Group will develop, as part of their remit, a draft consultation and engagement strategy, for consideration and approval by the partner bodies at future meetings of the Council and NHS Highland Board. This will include details of the proposed consultation period/timetable, key consultees and methods of consultation/engagement. 4. RELEVANT DATA AND INDICATORS 4.1 The legal requirement to undertake a quinquennial review of the Integration Scheme is set out in section 44(5) of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014. 5. CONTRIBUTION TO STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 5.1 The Scheme and Standing Orders provide the key governance documents for the IJB that support the delivery of the work of the Health and Social Care Partnership. 6. GOVERNANCE IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Financial Impact - none arising from this report 6.2 Staff Governance – none arising from this report 6.3 Clinical and Care Governance – none arising from this report
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3 Classification: OFFICIAL 7. PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY 7.1 Senior Officers from Argyll and Bute Council, HSCP and NHS Highland will meet regularly over the coming months as part of the Working Group tasked with reviewing the Scheme. 8. EQUALITY & DIVERSITY IMPLICATIONS 8.1 None arising from this report 9. GENERAL DATA PROTECTION PRINCIPLES COMPLIANCE 9.1 Activity is undertaken in line with GDPR regulations. 10. RISK ASSESSMENT 10.1 If the review of the Integration is not completed within the designated timescales, there is the risk of non-compliance with statutory measures under the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014. 11. PUBLIC & USER INVOLVEMENT & ENGAGEMENT 11.1 If both partner bodies are agreeable to any proposed amendments, there is then a requirement to undertake a formal consultation exercise in accordance with Section 46(4) of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014. The Council and the Health Board must jointly consult with groups and individuals, to include prescribed stakeholders, and any others deemed appropriate. 12. CONCLUSIONS 12.1 In line with the provisions of section 44 of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 a review of the current Integration requires to be completed and ready for submission to Scottish Ministers no later than 23rd March 2026. This report advises IJB members of the proposed steps to fulfil this requirement, including the creation of a Working Group. 13. DIRECTIONS Directions required to Council, NHS Board or both. Directions to: tick No Directions required x Argyll & Bute Council NHS Highland Health Board Argyll & Bute Council and NHS Highland Health Board 14. PREVIOUS REVIEW OF THE REPORT Meeting Title of report Date Output (if relevant) N/A
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4 Classification: OFFICIAL REPORT AUTHOR AND CONTACT Name: Laura Blackwood - Directorate Support Officer Email: laura.blackwood@argyll-bute.gov.uk