Strategic Planning Group - Living Well Strategy 2026-31
Argyll and Bute Council · 11 June 2026
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Strategic Planning Group — 11 June 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 Meeting: Strategic Planning Group Date of Meeting: 11th June 2026 Title of Report: Strategic Planning Group - Living Well Strategy 2026-31 Presented by: Sam Campbell – Health Improvement Principal The Strategic Planning Group is asked to: ▪ Note the significant achievements delivered through the Living Well Strategy (2019–2025). ▪ Note the structured approach undertaken to refresh the Strategy. ▪ Support the continued emphasis on prevention, early intervention and community-based delivery. 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Living Well Strategy (2019–2025) has been the HSCP’s flagship prevention strategy, delivering substantial progress in strengthening community-based support, embedding prevention, and improving self- management for people with, or at risk of, long-term conditions. The refreshed Living Well Strategy (2026–2031) builds on these strong foundations and responds to emerging challenges including increasing demand, health inequalities, and financial pressures. Work to refresh the Strategy has been undertaken during 2025, drawing on: • Extensive previous engagement and lived experience • Alignment with national and local strategies • Data from the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and locality profiles The refreshed Strategy sets a clear direction for a more preventative, person-centred and community-focused system, with delivery supported through strengthened governance and an implementation plan. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS • Note the significant achievements delivered through the Living Well Strategy (2019–2025). • Note the structured approach undertaken to refresh the Strategy. • Support the continued emphasis on prevention, early intervention and community-based delivery.
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2 3. DETAIL OF REPORT Key Achievements from the Living Well Strategy (2019–2025) The Living Well Strategy has delivered substantial, system-wide progress, particularly in embedding prevention, strengthening communities, and improving access to self-management support. Key achievements include: Strengthening Community Capacity and Support • Delivery of a Living Well small grants programme, enabling locally-led initiatives and increasing access to community-based wellbeing activity • Development of a community directory and improved local signposting • Increased access to community-based support for long-term conditions Embedding Prevention and Early Intervention • Establishment of a prevention partnership between HSCP, Macmillan and Live Argyll, including wellbeing coaching interventions • Increased focus on early intervention and preventative approaches across services • Alignment with the Population Health Framework and wider determinants of health Enhancing Self-Management and Person-Centred Support • Delivery of self-management and pain management programmes in partnership with Versus Arthritis • Development of link worker roles to support inclusion and self- management • Introduction of accessible health information resources for communities Responding Effectively to COVID-19 • Rapid adaptation of Living Well approaches to support pandemic response and recovery • Increased focus on mental health, resilience and social connection Strengthening Workforce Capability • Delivery of MAP Health Behaviour Change training across sectors • Increased awareness of the role of staff in supporting prevention and self-management Improving Partnership Working and Governance • Formation of the Living Well Programme Board, improving strategic oversight and integration with HSCP priorities • Strengthened multi-sector collaboration, including third sector and community partners Overall Impact: • Significant expansion of community-led and preventative activity • Stronger integration across partners • Increased emphasis on co-production, lived experience and population health approaches Steps Taken to Refresh the Strategy (2025) A structured and evidence-based approach was been taken to refresh the Strategy.
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3 Governance and Approach In January 2025, the Living Well Programme Board commissioned a short-life working group to undertake the refresh. Evidence and Engagement The refresh was informed by: • Previous extensive community and stakeholder engagement • Review of multiple HSCP and partner strategies, including: o Joint Strategic Plan o Carers Strategy o Outcome Improvement Plan o Mental health and wellbeing engagement • Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and locality data • Identification of recurring themes across strategies and engagement Mapping and Thematic Development • Review of 10 key strategies to identify shared priorities • Confirmation that the existing four themes (People, Communities, Workforce, Leadership) remain valid and aligned • Identification of key cross-cutting priorities: o Prevention and early intervention o Mental health and wellbeing o Access to services and information o Reducing inequalities and stigma o Strengthening community resilience Alignment with National Policy • Alignment with: o Scotland’s Population Health Framework (2025–2035) o Emerging Long Term Conditions Framework (pending publication) Summary of the Refreshed Living Well Strategy (2026–2031) The refreshed Strategy sets a clear direction for the next five years, with a stronger focus on prevention, sustainability and reducing inequalities. Strategic Aim: To support people in Argyll and Bute to: • Live healthy, independent and fulfilling lives • Be supported within strong and resilient communities • Access local, person-centred support closer to home The Strategy emphasises: • Prevention and early intervention as central to sustainability • A population health approach, recognising wider determinants of health • Partnership working across HSCP, third sector and communities • Community-based delivery to reduce reliance on acute services • Co-production and lived experience in service design Strategic Outcomes
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4 • People – Supporting self-management and accessible support • Communities – Empowering communities to lead and build capacity • Workforce – Developing a preventative, skilled workforce • Leadership – Strengthening governance, alignment and delivery Delivery Focus The Strategy will prioritise: • Expanding self-management and mental health support, • Strengthening community capacity and local place-based approaches, • Embedding prevention across the life course, including children and young people, • Developing a public health workforce approach across sectors, • Improving access to information, services and digital support, • Strengthening governance, monitoring and implementation planning. 4. RELEVANT DATA AND INDICATORS The Strategy is aligned to the Population Health Framework, focusing on addressing the root causes of ill health and reducing inequalities through prevention. The strategy was informed by data and evidence from a number of strategies including the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. 5. CONTRIBUTION TO STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Living Well remains the HSCP’s flagship prevention strategy, supporting delivery of: • Argyll and Bute HSCP’s Joint Strategic Plan priorities • Population health improvement • Reduction in health inequalities 6. GOVERNANCE IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Financial Impact - Continued funding of Community Link Working and the Living Well self-management and physical activity programme in the longer term to support people to live well. 6.2 Staff Governance – This refreshed strategy presents an opportunity to support staff to be better informed about community support, organisations and more able to signpost people to them. 6.3 Clinical and Care Governance – No implications 7. PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY The Living Well Programme is supported by a Living Well Board with professional representation from a number of disciplines and operational working groups taking on operational oversight and delivery of the Implementation Plan. A review of the Terms of Reference, membership and activity of both is nearing completion. 8. EQUALITY & DIVERSITY IMPLICATIONS
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5 The Living Well Board agreed at the February meeting to extend the reach of the strategy to include children and young people. The strategy aims to reduce inequalities through its core principles and approach. An Equality Impact Assessment has been completed. 8. GENERAL DATA PROTECTION PRINCIPLES COMPLIANCE No implications at this time. 9. RISK ASSESSMENT The Population Health Framework directs organisations to become prevention focussed. This requires both a cultural change and financial investment. There is a risk to a number of programmes during the duration of the strategy, that the transformative finance required is unavailable due to its allocation to delivery of current services. 10. PUBLIC & USER INVOLVEMENT & ENGAGEMENT Engagement activity undertaken is noted in the Strategy. 11. CONCLUSIONS The Living Well Strategy has delivered strong, measurable progress over the previous period, particularly in community development, prevention and partnership working. The refreshed Strategy builds on this foundation and sets a clear direction for: • Scaling up prevention and early intervention • Strengthening community-led approaches • Improving sustainability of the system Following publication, delivery will be supported through: • A detailed implementation plan • Strengthened governance and reporting arrangements • Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of impact 12. 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 13. PREVIOUS REVIEW OF THE REPORT Meeting Title of report Date Output (if relevant)
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6 REPORT AUTHOR AND CONTACT Author Name: Sam Campbell – Health Improvement Principal Email: Samantha.campbell3@nhs.scot