250821 - IJB Minute
North Ayrshire Council · 25 September 2025
Back to Integration Joint Board — 25 September 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership Minute of Integration Joint Board meeting held on Thursday 21 August 2025 at 10.00 a.m. involving participation by remote electronic means and physical attendance within the Council Chambers, Irvine. Present (Physical Participation) Voting Members Joyce White, NHS Ayrshire and Arran (Chair) Councillor Chloe Robertson, North Ayrshire Council (Vice-Chair) (Chair) Councillor Nairn Angus- McDonald, North Ayrshire Council Councillor Anthea Dickson, North Ayrshire Council Councillor Tom Marshall, North Ayrshire Council Professional Advisers Caroline Cameron, Director of Health and Social Care Partnership Thelma Bowers, Head of Service (Mental Health) (NAHSCP) Eleanor Currie, Interim Section 95 Officer Darren Fullarton, Associate Nurse Director/ Lead Nurse Present (Remote Participation) Voting Members Marc Mazzucco, NHS Ayrshire and Arran Professional Advisers Sharon Hackney, Lead Allied Health Professional Iain Jamieson, Clinical Director Stakeholder Representative Paul Smith, Carer Representative Vicky Yuill, Third Sector Representative In Attendance (Physical Participation) Elizabeth Stewart, Head of Service (Children, Families & Criminal Justice) Kerry Logan, Head of Service (Health and Community Care) Loretta Galloway, Unity Enterprise Alisa Weir, Senior Manager (Montrose House) Karen Andrews, Team Manager (Governance) Annie Johnston, Principal Manager (Business Support) Raymond Lynch, Senior Manager (Legal Services) Ruth Wilson, Team Leader (Litigation) Hayley Young, Senior Committee Services Officer Claudia Cheung, Digital, Media and Marketing Analyst
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Apologies Linda Semple, NHS Ayrshire and Arran Lynne McNiven, Public Health Representative Lorna Sim, Staff Representative NHS Ayrshire and Arran Tom Hopkins, NHS Ayrshire and Arran Scott Hunter, Chief Social Work Officer Aileen Craig, IJB Monitoring Officer 1. Apologies for Absence and Chair Remarks Apologies for Absence were noted. The Chair welcomed Councillor Chloe Robertson as the new Vice-Chair of the Integration Joint Board and thanked Councillor Margaret Johnson for her valuable contributions to the work of the IJB. 2. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest in terms of Standing Order 7.2 and Section 5.14 of the Code of Conduct for Members of Devolved Public Bodies. 3. Minutes The accuracy of the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 May 2025 were confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7(10 of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 4. Director’s Report Submitted report by Caroline Cameron, Director (NAHSCP) on the developments within the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership. Officers responded to members’ questions on various aspects of the report. Noted. 5. 2025-26 – Month 3 Financial Performance Submitted report by Eleanor Currie, Interim Chief Financial Officer (HSCP) on the Integration Joint Board’s financial performance as at Month 3 (June). Appendix A to the report detailed the financial overview of the Partnership position, while Appendix B provided an overview of those service changed which did not have financial savings attached and the BRAG status around the deliverability of each saving. Appendix C highlighted the movement in the budget position following the initial approved budget, with further detail on the reserves set out at Appendix D. The proposed recovery action was outlined in Appendix E, while Appendix F highlighted information on the costs of bank and agency staff. Officers responded to members’ questions on various aspects of the report. The Board agreed to (a) note the overall integrated financial performance report for the financial year 2025-26 and the current overall projected yearend overspend of £5.187m reducing to £1.175m after planned recovery actions; (b) note the progress with delivery of agreed savings; (c) approve the actions which are being taken to
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progress financial recovery and that an updated recovery plan will be presented to the next IJB; and (d) note the remaining financial risks for 2025-26; 6. Montrose House Care Home - Arran Submitted report by Kerry Logan, Head of Service (Health & Community Care) on the outcome of the recent options appraisal for Montrose House, as a follow up to the report presented to the IJB in June 2025. The report details the outcome of the recent options appraisal for Montrose House, engagement feedback from over the summer period and the recommended option to IJB to provide a sustainable model for residential and nursing care that supports older people living on the island of Arran within the available financial resource. The report asked support of the IJB to adopt and implement a revised service delivery model, with the full Options Appraisal set out at Appendix 1 to the report. This would see permanent bed numbers in Montrose House reduce from 15 to 10, while protecting existing respite provision and re-introducing flexible day care opportunities. The model would operate within the existing contracted staffing establishment, with a focus on reducing agency dependency and improving service sustainability. This option also aligns with the broader strategic aim of enhancing community-based care and supporting carers through increased respite availability and day care opportunities. And to support the implementation of an admissions policy to prioritise access for Arran residents with close familial and community ties on the isle of Arran, that would be developed taking cognisance of legal advice from North Ayrshire Council. Officers responded to members’ questions on various aspects of the report. Members also queried the comparator costs of a care home bed in Montrose House of £107,982 vs average cost other care home placements of £30,579. Clarification was provided that the values reflect the net cost to the HSCP of each type of placement: • £107,982 Montrose House – cost in 24/25 for 15 beds per bed based on actual costs net of resident charges • £30,579 other care homes - all other care home placements are through independent or third sector care home providers - for local authority placements in older peoples care homes we pay a set national care home contract rate It was highlighted that every resident a local authority places into a residential or nursing care home contributes towards the financial cost of their placement, this was means tested and follows national guidance. For individuals with higher levels of income and savings the HSCP only fund the free personal care element of care. The costs above for both placements are an average of the net for all placements, ie. for Montrose House an average based on 15 residents and for mainland placements the average of over 700 individual placements. The comparator was included as the average cost of an alternative mainland placement as an alternative to Montrose House is currently £30,579. Joyce White, seconded by Councillor Robertson, moved the approval of the recommendations set out in the officer’s report. As an amendment Councillor Angus-McDonald, seconded by Vicki Yuill, proposed the following: The IJB notes:
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• The overwhelming rejection of the Montrose House proposals by the people most affected: 97% of Arran residents and 61% of staff opposed the plans in consultation. Our statutory duties under: • The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, including the requirement to conduct an Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) before decisions that may significantly affect an island community. It is clear that this proposal, if implemented, would negatively impact island residents by reducing local access to care, increasing travel and time to care, and undermining resilience during winter disruption. • The European Convention on Human Rights (particularly Article 8, right to respect for private and family life, and Article 14, non-discrimination). • The Equality Act 2010 (Public Sector Equality Duty) and the Fairer Scotland Duty, which require us to consider impacts on protected groups and those experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. Early analysis indicates that older people, disabled residents, and lower-income families would be disproportionately and negatively affected by the proposal. • The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014, which requires the IJB to plan services in partnership with communities and deliver services in a way that improves outcomes. The IJB therefore resolves: That no implementation of the Montrose House proposals will proceed until: • A full paper is brought to North Ayrshire Council, requesting that they fund the identified shortfall in recognition of the unique statutory duties and additional costs arising from Arran’s Island status; and • A focus group of Arran residents and stakeholders is formally established, as previously promised, to examine and co-design alternative models of care provision that meet the island’s specific needs. On a point of order, Councillor Dickson asked and received clarification on whether the Partnership could request that Council fund the identified shortfall, when not at the end of the financial year. The Chair agreed that the meeting be adjourned at 11.45 a.m. for a short comfort break to consider the amendment, reconvening at 11.55 a.m. with the same Members and officers present and in attendance with the exception of Sharon Hackney. There followed debate and summing up. On a division and roll call vote, there voted for the amendment, Councillors Angus- McDonald and Marshall (2) and for the motion, Councillors Robertson, Dickson, Joyce White and Marc Mazzucco (4) and the motion was declared carried. Accordingly, the Board agreed as follows: To (a) approve the outcome of the Montrose House options appraisal and the recommended option for future delivery in Montrose House of 10 permanent beds and
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1 respite bed; (b) approve the recommended model of day care delivery for older people on the island of Arran; (c) support the principle of and development of an admissions Policy for Montrose House to prioritise care for the residents of Arran and provide a robust admissions criteria; (d) note the further work undertaken over the summer period to engage and seek feedback on the proposed changes, the outputs of this engagement are shared within the report and options appraisal; and (e) agree to declare the remainder of the Montrose House building as surplus to North Ayrshire Council and work with NAC colleagues to identify alternative uses which complement the care home facility. Councillor Marshall and Marc Mazzucco left the meeting at this point. 7. Transformation Plan – Progress Update Submitted report by Caroline Cameron, Director (NAHSCP) on the progress of the HSCP transformation plan. Six-month progress updates were provided to IJB in September 2024, December 2024 and a further update on Q3 at the meeting on 6th February 2025, with updated now every six months. Officers responded to members’ questions on various aspects of the report. Noted. 8. North Ayrshire HSCP Clinical and Care Governance Report 2024-25 Submitted report by Darren Fullarton, Associate Nurse Director/ Lead Nurse, NHS Ayrshire and Arran on the HSCP Clinical and Care Governance Report 2024-25. The report provided an update and overview of governance activity for the period August 2024 – July 2025 and was set out at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers responded to members’ questions on various aspects of the report. Noted. 9. Annual Performance Report 2024-25 Submitted report by Caroline Cameron, Director (NAHSCP) on the key achievements during 2024-25 and the publication of the Partnership’s Annual Performance Report, set out at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers responded to members’ questions on various aspects of the report. Noted. 10. NHS Ayrshire and Arran Delivery Plan 2025-2026 Submitted, for information NHS Ayrshire and Arran Delivery Plan 2025-2026. Noted. 11. Strategic Planning Group Meeting Minutes Submitted, for information the minutes in relation to the Strategic Planning Group Meeting on 12 March 2025.
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Noted. The meeting ended at 12.40 pm. The full meeting proceedings can be viewed at https://north-ayrshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home