Chief Officer's Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 31 January 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 31 January 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 Integration Joint Board Agenda item: Date of Meeting: 31 January 2024 Title of Report: Chief Officer Report Presented by: Fiona Davies, Chief Officer The Integration Joint Board is asked to: • Note the following report from the Chief Officer Introduction I would like to welcome you to my Chief Officer Report for January 2024 and as usual I would be delighted to receive feedback on the report and how we can develop it further to ensure that it continues to reflect the work that is taking place across the organisation. In my report this month I have included details of the recent announcement from NHS Highland, which many of you may have seen already, which highlights that I have been appointed as the next Chief Executive of NHS Highland and will take up the role on 1 April when Pam Dudek, the current post holder, retires. I am looking forward to widening my ongoing commitment to working with our partnership staff and members of the community in my new role and I look forward to continuing these working relationships and building many more over the coming years. The IJB has an approved recruitment process for a new Chief Officer and I will ensure that there are regular updates on the progress with this and any requirement for interim leadership. The Integration Joint Board was briefed on 11 December on the update to National Care Service planning provided by Maree Todd MSP. This letter is available to read at the following link: National Care Service (parliament.scot) We will continue to update the Integration Joint Board and communicate any potential change noting impacts in our public meeting.
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2 The Scottish Government also set out its 2024-25 budget on the 19 December and we are currently reviewing the implications of this for us as a partnership and how this will affect our joint financial planning. It has been acknowledged that the government has been “compelled to take painful and difficult decisions in order to prioritise funding in the areas which have the greatest impact on the quality of life for the people of Scotland”. This will increase our challenge in Argyll & Bute and a further analysis will be provided to the board. Other topics outlined in my report including information on a recent webinar arranged by the public health team for HSCP staff and workplaces. This event provided more information on the good work carried out by the national Breathing Space service and more information is included below. I am also delighted to highlight the work that our Screening Engagement Officer is carrying out across Argyll and Bute. This is a vital role and helps raise awareness and uptake of the various national screening programmes. Finally, and as usual, I have also included some of the key updates announced recently by the Scottish Government including a number of formal consultations and details of a campaign that has been launched to support the recruitment of more adult social care workers. HSCP Updates Appointment of new NHS Highland Chief Executive Following a competitive recruitment process I have been appointed as the next Chief Executive of NHS Highland and will take up post on 1 April 2024, when the current post holder, Pamela Dudek, will retire. View the full media release from NHS Highland here HSCP Chief Officer Recruitment We will shortly be starting the recruitment process for a new Chief Officer for the HSCP and will ensure that there are regular updates on the progress with this. Breathing Space Webinar Public Health colleagues arranged a webinar in December for HSCP staff and workplaces in Argyll and Bute to find out more about the services offered by the national Breathing Space service. The webinar was well attended on the day and our thanks go to colleagues from Breathing Space for delivering a webinar which was informative, engaging and very interesting. Breathing Space provides a free, confidential, phone and webchat service for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. They are here in times of difficulty to provide a safe and supportive space by listening, offering advice and providing information. The service was launched in 2002 to address serious concerns about the mental wellbeing of people in Scotland. It became a national phoneline in 2004 and will celebrate its 20th anniversary later this year. Breathing Space complements the
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3 work of other phonelines and agencies which are endeavouring to reduce suicide rates in Scotland. More information is available here. Dental Team Nominated for National Award The HSCP’s dental team have been nominated for a Celebrating Forces Families Award for their work to care for the dental health of children of naval families based in Helensburgh and surrounding areas. It's a very exciting time for the dental team and they are delighted to have been nominated for this award. Further information on the awards can be found here. Screening Engagement Officer To assist with the uptake of the national screening programmes the HSCP introduced the post of a Screening Engagement Officer and Angela Anderson, who is based in Oban, took up the role in February 2023. The focus of the role is to improve awareness and understanding of the screening programmes by delivering training and taking part in outreach work with those groups that have in the past been less likely to take part. This also improves awareness of the barriers faced by certain groups and helps address health inequalities. Angela has delivered training to groups such as Argyll Wellbeing Hub, Jean's Bothy in Helensburgh, Mull Safe & Sound, Argyll & Bute Rape Crisis, Refugee resettlement at Argyll and Bute Council amongst others. The most novel ideas have been a collaboration with "My Tribe" who deliver period products throughout Argyll - they agreed to put cervical screening posters in with each period product pack they send out within Argyll. There has also been an eye- catching "crochet uterus" on the popular post-box topper in Oban which has received a lot of great comments on social media with over 300 "likes" and over 50 "shares". It is a good conversation starter for screening! In December Angela also delivered training on cervical screening to a group of GP Specialty Trainees from Oban and Connel and in January she delivered training to Community Link workers who work within GP surgeries across the HSCP. Palm Court Update In October 2023, the HSCP was formally informed by the owners of Palm Court, a residential care home for older people on Bute, that due to personal reasons they were planning to close the facility. The HSCP and Argyll and Bute Council worked with the owners of the home and families during this time. The home has now closed and all residents have been found alternative accommodation. We would like to thank the owners and the staff for all their hard work over the last few years to the care of older people. National Updates Consultation on Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill
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4 Views are being sought on proposals to better protect, respect and champion the rights of people with learning disabilities, autistic and neurodivergent people. The Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill consultation includes proposals that would provide benefits in many areas of life, including more inclusive communications and mandatory training in the public sector to address the stigma and barriers people often face. Further information is available here. Alcohol marketing consultation The Scottish Government will hold more talks with public health stakeholders and the alcohol industry early next year to discuss ways of limiting young people’s exposure to alcohol promotions. The development comes following publication of the Scottish Government’s recent consultation analysis on restricting alcohol advertising and promotions. Further information is available here. A first Self-Harm Strategy for Scotland and the World A new strategy focused on supporting people who self-harm is being launched, backed by new investment from the Scottish Government of £1.5 million. The strategy - developed jointly with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and informed by people with lived experience - is believed to be the first of its kind in the world. It includes a three-year action plan which will prioritise tackling stigma and discrimination and improving support for people who have self-harmed – particularly those known to be at higher risk. Further information is available here. Expanding Scotland’s Medical Workforce Record levels of investment will see an additional 153 trainee doctor posts created next year in what will be the largest annual expansion on record. This level of expansion represents a 2.3% increase above the current whole time equivalent workforce of 6570 trainees. The additional posts, costing £42m over the next four years, are being funded by the Scottish Government to help meet growing demand in a number of key specialties. Further information is available here. Campaign highlights Rewarding and Varied Social Care Careers A campaign has been launched to support the recruitment of more adult social care workers and help address vacancies. The new Adult Social Care recruitment drive, ‘You can make the difference’ includes TV, radio, outdoor and digital advertising. The campaign focuses on the difference someone working in adult social care can make to people’s lives, highlighting the rewarding relationship between carer and care receiver. Further information is available here News
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5 Safety and Protection of Women and Girls against Violence The HSCP was pleased to support the 16 Days of Action against Gender-Based Violence (VAWG) campaign. Buildings throughout Argyll and Bute and across Scotland were illuminated in green, white, purple and orange to support the campaign which runs from the 25 November to 10 December every year. The National Violence Against Women Network (NVAWN) promoted the theme of "Imagine a Scotland without gender-based violence" and the campaign called on citizens worldwide to share the actions they are taking to create a world free from violence towards women and girls. Each of the 32 Council areas in Scotland hosts a Violence against Women and Girls Partnership and they all link to the NVAWN. They exist to ensure both local and national coordination and promotion of efforts to tackle gender-based violence against women and girls, including domestic violence. Argyll and Bute has an active partnership that meets regularly and is made up of a wide range of key partners across both the public and Third Sector. Cowal Community Hospital Nurse Wins National Award Advanced Nurse Specialist Lorraine Carey-Gardner, who is based at Cowal Community Hospital and covers the Cowal and Bute area, has won a national award from the Pumping Marvellous heart failure charity for supporting people living with heart failure. Lorraine was nominated for a ‘You’re Simply Marvellous’ award by one of her patients who said that without her input, care and compassion they would be lost. They added that Lorraine gives them time to talk, always listens and is reassuring. The Pumping Marvellous annual awards showcase the outstanding individuals and teams who provide passion, commitment, and excellence of care to patients and their caregivers. Staffing Updates Clinical Governance Manager We want to congratulate Lucy Dornan who has been seconded into the role of Clinical Governance Manager until the end of 2024 and we wish Lucy every success in her new role. Dental Outreach Tutor We are delighted to welcome back Bobby Pendreigh as Outreach Tutor for the Undergraduate Dental Student Outreach Programme, which is based at Campbeltown Dental Centre. Bobby took up his post on 08 January. New Management Trainee Joanna Ross, a national management trainee, started working with the HSCP’s Primary Care Team in December and will be working closely with our salaried GP Practices to assist and support improvement and redesign within those teams.
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6 Vaccination Service Manager Retiral Margaret MacFarlane, physio and vaccination service manager, retired in December after more than 40 years in the NHS. We would like to thank Margaret for her many years of service and for her leadership and support in helping develop the HSCP’s vaccination service. Elijah Mushaninga, vaccination service manager for North Highland HSCP, will be extending his role to cover Argyll and Bute on a trial basis. We are delighted to welcome Elijah to the team. Area Manager for Kintyre and Islay We are delighted to announce that Gillian Neal has been appointed as the Area Manager for Kintyre and Islay. Gillian, who started in post on 3 January 2024, is an experienced manager who brings with her a lot of leadership and management experience. We wish her well in her new role.