IJB Director's Report 13-11-25FINAL
North Ayrshire Council · 13 November 2025
Back to Integration Joint Board — 13 November 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Integration Joint Board 13th November 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 NDIP National Dental Inspection Programme CHES Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland SIMD Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation IHE Institute of Health Equity SHS Scottish Health Survey ADP Alcohol and Drug 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.
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3. CURRENT POSITION National Developments 3.1 National Dental Inspection Programme Report 2025 The 2025 National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) report was published on 21 October 2025. NDIP has been instrumental in informing parents/guardians about their child’s oral health, monitoring the oral health level of children in Scotland, and assessing the impact of the national oral health improvement programme, Childsmile. All Primary 1 (P1, age 5) and Primary 7 (P7, age 11) pupils are offered a Basic Inspection each year. A Detailed Inspection is conducted in alternating years - focusing on either P1 or P7 pupils. This year the report covers the dental health of P7 children in local authority schools in Scotland. The key findings from the 2025 report are: • In 2025, an estimated 81.5% of P7 children in Scotland had no signs of obvious dental decay, similar to the 2023 figure of 81.9%. • The average number of teeth affected by obvious decay was estimated at 0.40, comparable to 0.36 in 2023. • Since 2005, obvious decay experience has declined, although this downward trend appears to have plateaued since the COVID-19 pandemic. • Oral health inequalities remain: in 2025, 71.4% of children living in the most socioeconomically deprived areas had no obvious decay experience, compared to 89.6% in the least deprived areas. Deprivation is measured using Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) A more in-depth presentation of the results (including a Basic Dental Inspection of P1 and P7) can be found at https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-dental- inspection-programme/national-dental-inspection-programme-20242025/. 3.2 Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland The second Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland (CHES) report: An Overview of the Social Determinants of Health in Scotland: The Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland, written by the Institute of Health Equity (IHE) was published on 13th October 2025. The report can be found here: An Overview of the Social Determinants of Health in Scotland: The Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland.
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This report provides an overview of key social determinants of health across the Marmot 8 principles. It follows IHE’s first report published as part of the CHES programme titled An Overview of Health Inequalities in Scotland: The Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland which focused on the extent of health inequalities in Scotland and within the CHES local areas of Aberdeen City, North Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. Further information on CHES can also be found on the Public Health Scotland website: Background - Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland - Environmental health impacts - Population health - Public Health Scotland 3.3 Accounts Commission Report – Improving Care Experience -Delivering The Promise The Improving Care Experience: Delivering The Promise - Accounts Commission Report – prepared by Audit Scotland report was published in October 2025. The Key facts highlighted in in the document were : • 150 organisations with corporate parenting duties in Scotland spread across 26 different types of organisation • 11,842 looked-after children on 31 July 24 • 88.8% proportion of looked-after children in community care • £20.6m value of grants distributed through The Promise Partnership Fund between 2021 and 2025 • £1.2bn identifiable spending on care experience by local authorities in 23/24 • £148m funding allocated out of a total £500m Whole Family Wellbeing fund since 2022/23 • £2.9m funding allocation available for The Promise Scotland in 2024/25 Recommendations for Children’s Services Planning Partnerships include: • Where not already in place, set out in local plans how they will involve, and seek and respond to views from care-experienced people. • Utilise the 25 supporting Plan 24–30 ‘route maps’ (due to be published by end of 2025) to enable collective responsibility and accountability for The Promise, ensuring clarity of roles across all sectors. • Set out in local strategic plans priority areas for investment to deliver The Promise, by 2030 and beyond. 3.4 Scottish Health Survey The Scottish Health Survey was published 21 October 25 and presents results for the Scottish Health Survey 2024. The Scottish Health Survey (SHS) plays an important role in assessing health outcomes, health risks and the extent of health inequalities in Scotland and how these have changed over time.
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Key findings include: • Half of all adults now have at least one long-term condition, continuing the upward trend. Almost two in five adults (39%) reporting having a long-term condition that limits their activities. • Prevalence of any CVD (excluding diabetes or high blood pressure) remained in line with recent years at 16% of adults. • Prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma amongst adults reached 18%, the highest proportion recorded since the timeseries began in 2003. • In 2023/2024 combined, 15% of adults reported being unpaid carers. • Eight percent of adults report having doctor-diagnosed diabetes, the highest level recorded. Other areas covered by this survey include chronic pain, mental health, CVD, diet, alcohol, smoking & drugs, physical activity, and dental health. The Scottish Health Survey together with other population level data is used to inform the Strategic Needs Assessment for the HSCP and the priorities in our Strategic Plan which is currently being reviewed. 3.5 Health And Social Care Reform Portfolio and Programme Governance The Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework (SRF) and Population Health Framework (PHF) were published in June, following the Operational Improvement Plan (March). These frameworks guide the long-term reform and renewal of health and social care in Scotland. Scottish Government has now finalised plans for portfolio and programme governance with three discrete governance boards being established. 1. Reform Oversight Board - The Scottish Government and COSLA will convene the Reform Oversight Board, which will deliver shared leadership, ensure whole system oversight and assurance and provide clear accountability for the delivery of long-term Health and Social Care reform and renewal. This group will bring together national and local accountability for delivery of the aims, priorities, major changes and enabling shifts set out in the PHF and SRF. The Board will complement, not replace, local and national reform governance. It will be jointly accountable to Scottish Ministers and COSLA Leaders. 2. PHF Programme Board - The PHF Programme Board will oversee and drive delivery of the PHF. Initially focused on providing oversight of the early actions outlined in the Framework, the Board will also set strategic direction beyond the initial two-year period, ensuring the Framework can adapt to evolving needs and challenges across the decade. The Board will play a key role in ensuring delivery is monitored and evaluated, so that gaps can be identified and addressed, and future actions can be developed.
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3. SRF Programme Board - The SRF Programme Board will provide strategic system oversight for delivery of SRF Programme objectives and maintain focus on outcomes, benefits and the overarching change plan. The Board will be supported by programme structures including an internal Scottish Government SRF Delivery Board which will focus on delivery of the actions set out in the SRF via 6 Major Change areas and 3 Enabling Shifts. North Ayrshire Developments 3.6 Accounts Commission : Best Value : North Ayrshire Council The Accounts Commission published the Controller of Audit’s Statutory Report on Best Value in North Ayrshire on 28th October. The report highlighted that :- • North Ayrshire ‘thinks big’ as it looks to the future, with a focus on improving services, reducing poverty and inequality, and proactively tackling a projected £47 million funding gap. • Other councils can learn from North Ayrshire’s approach to change and innovation, with strong governance, funding and support in place to help deliver savings and wider benefits for the future. • The council is committed to consulting and engaging with local people. These trusted relationships with the community are critical, with difficult decisions ahead. In the report, the Accounts Commission highlights how the council is working with the other Ayrshire councils and local partners, exploring sharing services and doing things differently. The report recognises that like other Councils North Ayrshire faces significant medium term financial risks particularly in relation to spending on health and social care services, the Accounts Commission noted they are encouraged that relationships across the IJB are positive, and oversight and scrutiny arrangements are robust. The full report can be accessed Best Value: North Ayrshire Council.
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3.7 Unseen, Unheard, Unbroken Exhibition – Harbour Arts Centre Part of this year’s North Ayrshire Mental Health Arts Festival, ‘Unseen, Unheard, Unbroken’ is a moving exhibition created by adult and young unpaid carers working with Carers Gateway North Ayrshire. Developed over six weeks of community-based workshops, led by artists Michelle Winslow and Tragic O’Hara, the exhibition explores the emotional and mental health impacts of caring through diverse visual art. Blending natural materials and bold street-art techniques, the works offer honest, creative reflections on the realities of unpaid care. The exhibition ran at the Harbour Arts Centre until Saturday 1 November. 3.8 Dads Worker Shortlisted for top Health and Social Care Award Congratulations to Dads Worker Ryan Warren, who has been shortlisted in the ‘Unsung Hero – Reader’s Choice Award’ category at this year’s Scotland’s Health Awards. The awards, hosted by The Scotsman in partnership with NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government, offer an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary individuals and teams who go above and beyond to deliver compassionate, high- quality health and social care across Scotland. Ryan, who works for charity Dads Rock and sits within our Children and Families Health team, was nominated for his work in providing support to dads in North Ayrshire, helping them to be the best dads they can be and supporting them to give their children the best possible start in life. You can read more about the event on the Scotland’s Health Awards website. The winners will be announced on Thursday 6 November at an awards ceremony in Edinburgh. 3.9 Hard Hitting Play – Drug Use Dangers A thought-provoking play highlighting the risks involved in illegal substance use has been touring North Ayrshire secondary schools this month.
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S3 pupils watched a presentation of Mark Wheeler’s ‘I Love You Mum, I Promise I Won’t Die’ as part of Tie It Up Theatre's autumn schools tour. The play was developed in conjunction with drug education charity the DSM Foundation, which was set up in January 2014 by Tim and Fiona Spargo-Mabbs in response to the loss of their 16-year-old son Daniel who died after taking ecstasy. The performance was followed by a drug education workshop, which shared key facts that will help them make informed decisions, as well as offering important strategies to help them put their decisions into practice in a pressured situation. 3.10 Homeless Prevention Strategy Partnership Event A consultation event around the Ask & Act duty that is part of the Housing Bill for Homeless Prevention was held on Thursday 30 October at Fullarton ConneXions in Irvine. Staff and partners attended to : • Find out more about the forthcoming changes in relation to Homeless Prevention under the Housing (Scotland) Bill • Provide feedback on emerging priorities and challenges for the Ask & Act Duty • Take part in collaboration across services to ensure a joined-up and effective response • Help to shape the direction of the strategy 3.11 Free Appointments – Specialist Dementia Nurse Dementia UK, in partnership with Nationwide Fairer Futures, is offering free, confidential appointments with a specialist dementia nurse at Nationwide Building Societies across the country. Those who care for someone with dementia (or know someone who has a diagnosis themselves who would like to go along) can book an appointment at one of the following venues by clicking on the relevant link below: Kilmarnock, 116 King Street: Tuesday 25 November Ayr, 178 High Street: Wednesday 26 November Irvine, 16 Bridgegate: Thursday 27 November Greenock, 41 West Blackhall Street: Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 November
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The nurse will be able to provide expert, tailored support, whatever your questions or concerns, and you do not need to be a customer of Nationwide in order to book a session. If you have any further questions, please contact nationwide@dementiauk.org 3.12 Silver award success for analogue to digital project NAHSCP has achieved the Silver Digital Telecare Implementation Award from Digital Telecare for Scottish Local Government. The award is in recognition of the recent progress of our analogue to digital telecare transition project, where all of our analogue community alarm and telecare equipment is being switched to digital ahead of analogue telephone lines being switched off in the UK in early 2027. You can read more about the award and the work being carried out in North Ayrshire on the Digital Telecare for Scottish Local Government website. Well done to all of our staff involved in achieving this fantastic result! 3.13 Sponsored Walk – Café Solace Members of our NAADP Support Team joined a team from the PHOENIx pilot and volunteers of Café Solace in Irvine for a sponsored walk to raise funds for the charity’s ‘Pay It Forward’ campaign, which provides meals for the most vulnerable in our community. Starting at Ardrossan South Beach, the team walked 10 miles to Irvine Harbour, in adverse weather, but the heavy rainfall, spirits remained high as the group raised an impressive £930. Well done to you all for this fantastic achievement.
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The Pay it Forward initiative will this year cover the cost of some extra festive cheer, with Café Solace opening its doors to provide a warm and welcoming Christmas dinner at a time when limited support is available. Those accessing services at Caley Court in Stevenston can also use the scheme to enjoy a roll and a cuppa from the Caley Court café. 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 4.6 Community Wealth Building None 4.7 Key Priorities None 5. CONSULTATION 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