IJB Director's Report
North Ayrshire Council · 6 February 2025
Back to Integration Joint Board — 6 February 2025 and its agenda
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Integration Joint Board 6th February 2025 Subject : Director’s Report Purpose : This report is for awareness to advise members of North Ayrshire Integration Joint Board (IJB) of developments within North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (NAHSCP) Recommendation : IJB members are asked to note progress made to date. Direction Required to Council, Health Board or Both Direction to :- 1. No Direction Required X 2. North Ayrshire Council 3. NHS Ayrshire & Arran 4. North Ayrshire Council and NHS Ayrshire & Arran Glossary of Terms NHS AA NHS Ayrshire and Arran IJB Integration Joint Board HSCP Health and Social Care Partnership 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report informs members of the Integration Joint Board (IJB) of the work undertaken within North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (NAHSCP), nationally, locally and Ayrshire wide. 2. BACKGROUND 2.1 This report provides IJB with up to date information on recent activity across the HSCP since the last IJB. The report will also provide COVID related information by exception. 3. CURRENT POSITION National Developments 3.1 Barron Review – Progress Update Report
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In March 2019, the Minister for Mental Health commissioned an Independent Review into the delivery of Forensic Mental Health Services (“Barron review”) chaired by Derek Barron, Director of Care at Erskine. The final report was published February 2021 and made 67 recommendations under 6 separate themes to improve the quality and delivery of Forensic Mental Health Services. The Scottish Government published their response in October 2021, committing to a collaborative and inclusive approach to inform future reforms and to working with partners to take forward recommendations. Scottish Government announced the publication of the Scottish Government Progress Update Report which was completed in December 2024. The report provides an update on the progress towards delivering the recommendations from the Barron Review thus far and associated work that has taken place across Scottish Government. The report illustrates the commitment of the Scottish Government to addressing the issues raised by the Barron Review and should be read in conjunction with the final report of the Barron Review and the Scottish Government response. The findings of the review continue to be considered nationally and locally and NAHSCP will continue to represent Ayrshire and Arran, including in recent considerations to establish a National Forensic Board and the bringing together of stakeholders to agree on a clear plan for addressing the strategic planning and governance of forensic mental health services. 3.2 New framework looks at progress of the Promise The Promise Progress Framework, created by The Promise Scotland, the Scottish Government and COSLA, brings together nearly 50 different streams of national data in one place to examine how Scotland is doing towards keeping the Promise made to care experienced children and young people. It provides the structure to be able to answer the following three questions, which together will tell the Promise Story of Progress: • How is Scotland doing in its progress towards keeping the Promise? • How are organisations doing in their work to keep the Promise? • Does the care community feel the impact of the Promise being kept? This is the first time that this data has been brought together in such a way, and will allow any individual or organisation to use it in a way that works for them - or to highlight where more work and evidence is needed.
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It is a way to better understand the national picture, by seeing all data in one place. This can give users a way to contextualise their own data, and can be used by organisations for their own reporting or to see where more work is needed to ensure that the Promise can be kept. 3.3 Breathing Space NHS 24’s Breathing Space is a free and confidential phone and web chat service available to anyone in Scotland aged 16 and over experiencing low mood, depression, or anxiety. Delivered by NHS 24, the service is available in the evenings (6pm to 2am weekdays) and 24 hours at the weekend (Fri 6pm to Mon 6am) on 0800 83 85 87. The web chat service can be accessed from breathingspace.scot. Celebrated annually on 1st February, Breathing Space Day aims to remind everyone to make time for activities which improve mental wellbeing as well as promoting the service. 3.4 National Care Service In a statement to Parliament on 23rd January, the Minister for Social Care announced the Scottish Government’s intention to remove Part 1 of the National Care Service Bill, which includes the proposed creation of the National Care Service structure, including national and local NCS boards. This in effect would mean the removal of proposed legislative structural reform. In place of legal structural reform, on 23rd January Scottish Government announced their intention to proceed with a non-legislative National Care Service Advisory Board to provide oversight of social care in Scotland. Scottish Government intend to proceed with revised Parts 2 and 3 of the NCS Bill, relating to key social care reforms including a Right to Breaks for Carers, Integrated Health and Care Record and care home visitation rights. Details of the non-legislative NCS Advisory Board are still to be confirmed, however Scottish Government issued a fact sheet on 23rd January which outlines the intent, they have been clear they want to focus on whole system accountability, financial transparency and the voice of lived experience. Areas for further work included in the budget correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary in December include Performance and Delivery – Rights, Equalities and Participation – Strategy, Standards and Quality – Fair Work and Ethical Commissioning – Culture, Governance and Finance – National Programmes. Scottish Ministers have indicated a desire for the NCS Advisory Board to be operational by March 2025.
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North Ayrshire Developments 3.5 Staff Response to Storm Eowyn As you will be aware, Storm Eowyn caused widespread damage to businesses and homes across the region, with challenging conditions continuing throughout Saturday and Sunday due to road blockages, flooding, debris, power outages and public transport issues. My thanks go to each and every staff member of NAHSCP and our providers for their efforts during Storm Eowyn and its aftermath. This proved to be the worst storm to hit North Ayrshire in almost two decades, with challenging conditions continuing throughout the weekend due to road blockages, storm debris, power outages and public transport issues. The storm caused widespread damage to businesses and homes across the region and resulted in significant disruption to our services, many of which were cancelled to ensure the safety of our staff and service users. A special thank you went to our frontline health and care staff, who went above and beyond in extremely difficult conditions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of some of our most vulnerable residents. Their commitment to ensuring that essential care services could continue was second to none, and your efforts are very much appreciated. Staff also worked tirelessly behind the scenes to provide the admin and managerial support that ensured essential services could run as smoothly as possible in the circumstances, communicating with service users about disruptions to their care, and checking in regularly with frontline staff to ensure their safety while carrying out their duties. 3.6 Young Carers Covenant North Ayrshire Council and Carers Gateway North Ayrshire have signed up to a new UK-wide commitment aimed at improving the lives of young carers and young adult carers, with NAC leading the way by being the first local authority in Scotland to sign up for this important initiative. The Young Carers Covenant was launched the by Carers Trust and the Young Carers Alliance, setting out a series of outcomes for organisations to work towards to ensure the life chances of young carers are improved. By signing up to the Covenant, we have made the commitment to work towards ten key outcomes that will improve life chances for young carers, ensuring they are identified at the earliest opportunity, receive timely support, are able to thrive in
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education and employment, have time for themselves, and are able to maintain good physical health and wellbeing. 3.7 Woodland View Volunteers and Staff The 2024 Compassion to Action Volunteer Awards were held recently at Fullarton ConneXions in Irvine, acknowledging and honouring the great work of volunteers across NHS Ayrshire & Arran and the staff who support them. The winners this year included staff and volunteers from Woodland View in Irvine in the following categories: Behind the Scenes – Improving the Volunteer Experience: Katie Gilmour, Administrator QI Improvement Lead Award - Improving Patient Experience: Joyce Wilson and Martyn Byers A total of 24 volunteers currently assist within Woodland View, all of whom provide a fantastic service. Previous successes at the Compassion to Action Awards for Woodland View have included: 2022: Lesley Bramwell, Business Administration Manager: Manager of the Year. 2022: Mary Hunter, Medical Records Officer: Outstanding Staff Champion 2023: Woodland View Welcomers: Team of the Year. The image shows Tracy McCrum, Senior Administration Manager, and Lesley Bramwell, Business Administration Manager, receiving the Behind the Scenes Award on behalf of Katie Gilmour. A huge thank you goes out to each and every one of our volunteers for your invaluable commitment, as well as to the administration staff for their support to the Volunteer Programme. 3.8 Dads Rock Support for dads has received a boost after the expansion of a successful venture between North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership and Scottish charity Dads Rock.
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Originally launched in Autumn of 2023, the Dads Support Service, led by Dads Worker Ryan Warren, has been instrumental in empowering fathers and strengthening families throughout the Three Towns area. Through funding secured from the Scottish Government’s Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, the service has recently welcomed an additional Dads Worker, with support now being rolled out to dads in Irvine and Kilwinning. The service works with dads from a wide range of backgrounds who have been referred by their health visitor, family nurse, midwife or perinatal wellbeing team, providing one-to-one support that impacts on the whole family and improves outcomes for children, whether that be parenting advice, confidence building or support with general wellbeing. Peer support is available via WhatsApp, with fun days out held on a regular basis for dads and their children to come along to. Work is also under way looking at antenatal education provision for dads-to-be. In its first year, the service connected with over 60 families in the Three Towns area, with over 180 personalised support sessions, 36 group sessions and five family events taking place. And as well as working with dads who have been referred to the service, a weekly Dads Group that any dad and their baby or child can attend is held in the Ardeer Neighbourhood Centre on Wednesdays from 6.30pm, with a new group also launching on Sunday 16 February at Lanfine Community Centre in Irvine on Sundays from 10.30am. if you’d like to attend either of these groups, you can sign up online at dadsrock.beaconforms.com/form/2805e263 3.9 Peace of Mind Peace of Mind is an innovative programme aimed at reducing social exclusion and isolation as a result of a disability, impairment or long-term health condition, with a particular emphasis on people who do not receive statutory services but still need support. Run by social enterprise Peace of Mind Services, the programme has been successfully operating in Fife for the past three years and is now available in North Ayrshire thanks to funding from the National Lottery. Core to the Peace of Mind principle is the ability of individuals to exercise choice and control over how, where and when they are supported to achieve their social outcomes, recognising that engaging and taking part in community-based activities is key to health and well-being.
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As such, the organisation offers tailored experiences for individuals and groups based on their interests and aspirations. This can include independent living skills such as managing money, preparing healthy meals, attending the gym, or a wide range of activities such as going to art galleries and museums. Referrals are currently being accepted to the program, and you can register your interest or the details of someone you support via the website. Visit the Peace of Mind website to find out more about the programme, or contact Jim Withers by emailing jim@peaceofmind.scot or calling 07824 727 694. 3.10 Child Poverty – Ministerial Visit Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, visited Irvine Royal Academy on 22 January to speak to staff from Council services that work hard to help make life better for families and highlight the work being done in North Ayrshire to tackle poverty. She met with Headteacher Linzie Sloan and members of her leadership team to hear about the impactful work that is being carried out at the school to ensure financial constraints are not a barrier to children thriving. The cost of the school day is made affordable for families through projects including the Royal Resources Shop - a community shop offering free uniforms and food - and the free badge service, which sees school badges being pressed onto pre-loved uniforms. Welfare Rights Officers, who work within the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s Money Matters team, also explained how they ensure parents are accessing welfare benefits they are entitled to. 3.11 Grant funding applications open for projects that reduce drug and alcohol-related harms North Ayrshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership is inviting applications for grants of up to £15k for projects that can reduce alcohol and drug-related harms in North Ayrshire. The grants will be awarded this year to projects in North Ayrshire that have a particular focus on: • recovery-based activities in the evenings and at weekends. • developing opportunities for people to take part in activities that could help to develop their skills, try something new, volunteer, or make connections with other people in the community. • proposals that focus on engaging with young people about alcohol and drugs, and challenging stigma in an innovative way. • the provision of community-based activities for children who may be impacted by substance use.
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Application criteria can be found on the NAHSCP website. For a copy of the application form and guidance notes, please contact adp@north-ayrshire.gov.uk. 3.12 Joint Inspection of Adult Support and Protection – Self Evaluation North Ayrshire Adult Protection Committee have formally been offered a place to participate in Workstream 4 of the Adult Support and Protection Self Evaluation which will focus on support, early intervention, prevention and trauma informed practice. The work will be undertaken in conjunction with Care Inspectorate, Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) and HMICS and will the aimed at jointly undertaking self- evaluation and will focus on escalation of risk management, early intention and prevention, early multi-agency discussions, and trauma informed approaches. Introductory meetings have taken place on how to progress a joint approach to this exercise. IJB members will be updated on progress as the self-evaluation progresses. 3.13 Collaborating to Reduce Health Inequalities (CHES) North Ayrshire is embarking on a new and innovative collaboration to improve health equity in partnership with Public Health Scotland and the Institute for Health Equity, led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, at University College London. North Ayrshire has some of the lowest healthy life expectancies across Scotland, with significant health inequalities across our communities. North Ayrshire Council are partnering with the Integration Joint Board to be one of the 3 local authority areas in Scotland to take this work forward. The Collaboration for Heath Equity in Scotland (CHES) programme focuses on using the eight ‘Marmot principles’ to deliver better health outcomes through improving the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. The North Ayrshire CHES programme will officially launch on 25th February and the IJB will be included and kept informed of progress. 4. IMPLICATIONS 4.1 Financial None. 4.2 Human Resources None. 4.3 Legal None. 4.4 Equality/Socio-Economic None. 4.5 Risk None.
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4.6 Community Wealth Building None. 4.7 Key Priorities None. 5. CONSULTATION 5.1 No specific consultation was required for this report. User and public involvement is key for the partnership and all significant proposals will be subject to an appropriate level of Consultation. Caroline Cameron, Director [Carolinecameron@north-ayrshire.gov.uk/01294 317723] Appendices Nil