IJB Director's Report
North Ayrshire Council · 12 February 2026
Back to Integration Joint Board — 12 February 2026 and its agenda
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Integration Joint Board 12th February 2026 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 ICJ Improving the Cancer Journey FOISA Freedom of Information in (Scotland) Acts 2002 SPOC Single Point of Contact PHS Public Health Scotland ICJ Improving Cancer Journey ArCaS Arran Cancer Support RCN Royal College of Nursing 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 and highlights local and national information for awareness.
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3. CURRENT POSITION National Developments 3.1 Self Harm Strategy Interim Report & Reflection and Improvement Tool In November 2023 COSLA and Scottish Government jointly published the �� Self Harm Strategy and Action Plan with the aim of ensuring that anyone affected by self harm receives compassionate support, without fear of stigma and discrimination. A ��midterm report on the Strategy and Action Plan was published in December 2025 highlighting where progress has been made, including in relation to offers of training and support for affected individuals and professionals. . Also published in December 2025 was a �� Reflection and Improvement Tool designed to help leaders consider and support local improvement in response to self- harm in line with the Scottish Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan. This can be utilised by council staff and partners either individually or together. Consultations 3.2 Extension of Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) �� Extension of Freedom of Information in (Scotland) Acts 2002 (FOISA) to private and third sector providers of care home and ‘care at home’ services - Consultation – Scottish Government • The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) gives people important rights to ask for and receive information from government and public services in Scotland. In doing so it places clear obligations on Scottish public authorities to provide people with information about their work. • Through this consultation, the Scottish Government is seeking views on whether these rights and obligations should, where possible, be extended to private and third sector (i.e. voluntary and not-for-profit) providers of care home and ‘care at home’ services. The consultation closes on 30th March 2026, the HSCP will provide feedback to the consultation. 3.3 Future of Secure Care & Single Point of Contact (SPOC) �� The future of secure care and the single point of contact (SPOC) for victims in the Children's Hearings System - Consultation – Scottish Government
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This consultation seeks views on a transformative future for secure care, and for the children who may need its support, across the following inter-linked issues: • The case(s) for the future nationalisation and / or the national co-ordination of secure care in Scotland, including the potential contribution of the National Social Work Agency; • Depending on the adopted future approach, the design of funding and commissioning models to support consistent, high quality provision; • Expanding or redefining the statutory concept of “secure accommodation” or “secure care” and revising the criteria for when a child may be placed in restrictive environments. • Models proposed in the ‘Reimagining Secure Care’ report – ‘flex secure’, ‘community-based hubs’ and ‘multi-disciplinary teams’; • Standards for the safe and secure transportation of children, whether to secure care facilities or to essential appointments during their stay in secure care, or wider transport needs when secure transport is required; and • The establishment of a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for victims affected by harmful behaviour that is being considered within the youth justice system. The consultation closes on 16th April 2026, the HSCP will provide feedback to the consultation. 3.4 Mental Welfare Commission - Right to Advocacy Report Mental Welfare Commission Scotland published the Right to Advocacy report on 19 January 2026 which shows that: Advocacy provision for adults • Planning and commissioning of advocacy services: the majority of respondents confirmed that this is carried out at HSCP level or jointly with health boards and local authorities. • Strategic advocacy plans: 65% (n=20) of respondents reported that they have a plan in place and six confirmed that plans are in the process of being developed. Advocacy provision for children and young people • Integrated children’s services plan: 97% (n=30) of respondents reported that they have a plan in place, and 23 contain a reference to the provision of advocacy. Independent advocacy services commissioned for adults, children and young people • 55% (n=17) of respondents have confirmed that their budget for mental health, learning disability or dementia independent advocacy has not changed over the last two years. • 51% (n=44) out of 86 advocacy organisations are allocated funding for a term of one year only.
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A copy of the full report is available here North Ayrshire responded to the survey and our response confirmed: • The HSCP commission advocacy for both adults and children, • A Strategic Advocacy Plan is in place, • This is reflected in our Children’s Services Strategic Plan, • The resource allocated to advocacy support has not reduced, • Our commissioned advocacy providers have multi-year contracts. 3.5 Audit Scotland Reports Audit Scotland published two reports in January 2026 :- Delayed Discharges, a sign of wider challenges in health and social care A joint report by the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission warns delayed discharge has a significant effect, despite impacting only around 3% of hospital patients. People medically ready to leave spent 720,000 unnecessary days in hospital in 2024/25. Whilst the full financial impact is unknown, the cost to the NHS in hospital days alone is an estimated £440 million a year. The causes are complex, including rising demand for health and social care services, financial pressures, long- standing recruitment and retention problems across Scotland and for some, not having a Power of Attorney in place. Reducing delayed discharges is a priority for the Scottish Government and their partners in health and social care, with significant activity underway to tackle this. But a lack of evaluation of initiatives across the country means it is difficult to measure what is having the greatest impact and whether these initiatives represent value for the money and time spent. Community Health and Social Care : Performance 2025 A lack of comprehensive and consistent national performance information makes it difficult to assess the impacts of integration. Audit Scotland have produced a briefing and data tool designed to support Integration Authorities (IAs) and Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) in comparing how services are performing locally and across Scotland. The aim is to highlight the need for better performance information, supporting benchmarking and self-assessment using the national information that's available. Both Audit Scotland reports will be considered at a future meeting of the IJB Performance and Audit Committee.
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3.6 Public Health Scotland (PHS) – New 10 Year Strategy Public Health Scotland have launched a new 10-year strategy, Together we can. The strategy sets a clear and ambitious direction for improving health and wellbeing across Scotland, driven by evidence, collaboration, and the voices of people and communities across the country. Scotland faces urgent challenges to health and wellbeing, including persistent inequalities, preventable conditions, and rising pressure on public services. The strategy is a commitment – not just a list of aspirations – to deliver real, lasting change and aim to improve average life expectancy by at least one year within the next decade and to narrow the life expectancy gap between the poorest 20% of areas and the national average. The approach is grounded in five key drivers of action: • Building a prevention-focused system • Improving social and economic conditions • Strengthening places and communities • Enabling healthy living • Providing equitable access to health and care. North Ayrshire Developments 3.7 Delivering Social Care Services Within Budget : Consultation Closed The consultation exercise, which ran for six weeks and closed on Friday 16 January, was set up to gather the thoughts North Ayrshire residents, community groups, staff, and partner organisations on their priorities around how NAHSCP delivers social care services within budget. The partnership is facing significant financial pressures, with demand for its services continue to rise at an unprecedented rate. With the cost of providing these services also increasing - and funding not keeping pace with these additional challenges - NAHSCP is facing a projected budget deficit of around £17m in 2026-27. This will affect the level and types of care NAHSCP is able to provide across many of its services. Findings from the consultation will be analysed by NAHSCP’s Strategic Planning and Transformation team over the coming weeks, with a final consultation report being presented to North Ayrshire Integration Joint Board in March for consideration when setting the budget for 2026-27. The HSCP thank everyone who took the time to share their views.
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3.8 Improving the Cancer Journey for People on Arran A new service to ensure people living with cancer and their families are offered emotional, practical and wellbeing support is now available for Arran residents. The Improving the Cancer Journey (ICJ) service is jointly funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and the Scottish Government, working in partnership with NHS AA and the Health and Social Care Partnerships in North, East and South Ayrshire. The service aims to provide every person affected by cancer, including families and carers, with vital assistance in finding support for any non- clinical concerns they may have. Read more about the service in our news article. On Arran, the ICJ team is working closely with Arran Cancer Support (ArCaS) to deliver the service. Face-to-face appointments can be arranged at the ArCaS Hub at The Pier, Brodrick, over the telephone, or online via video call. The service is free and available to anyone, aged 16 and over, living on Arran that has been affected by cancer. This includes people living with cancer and those affected by cancer, such as partners, carers and family members. To find out more about how the service can help, or to book an appointment, please call 01563 827028, email aa.icj@aapct.scot.nhs.uk, or visit the NHS A&A website. 3.9 Care Inspectorate Inspection – Anam Cara Anam Cara, our respite service received a very positive report from the Care Inspectorate following an unannounced inspection in January 2026. The service received very positive findings across all evaluated areas, with the service rated Very Good (5) for supporting wellbeing, staffing, the care environment, and care planning. Inspectors highlighted the consistency and experience of the staff team, strong teamwork and a compassionate, person-centred approach that supported positive outcomes for people accessing short breaks. Health needs assessments and care plans were found to be comprehensive, personalised, and consistently updated, ensuring that individuals received high-quality, tailored support. Relatives and people using the service expressed high levels of satisfaction, emphasising the value of respite in reducing stress and providing reassurance that their loved ones were safe and well cared for.
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The inspection further identified significant strengths in the quality of the environment and overall experience offered at Anam Cara. The setting had undergone substantial refurbishment, creating a warm, welcoming, and homely atmosphere that enhanced people’s comfort during their stay. Opportunities for engagement, activities, and meaningful interaction were evident, contributing to a positive and enjoyable short-break experience. Congratulations to all the staff involved. 3.10 Finalist – RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards The team behind the NHS Ayrshire & Arran Mental Health Unscheduled Care Assessment Hub have been recognised for their positive impact, being named among the finalists at this year’s Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards in the Mental Health category. The nurse-led hub was established in September 2024 following a pilot and is the first of its kind in Scotland. Based at Woodland View in Irvine, it hosts a patient-focused therapeutic space to support the delivery of compassionate care to patients with acute mental illness. The Mental Health Unscheduled Care service provides 24-hour access to mental health assessment and interventions and can accommodate up to five patients within a therapeutic environment for up to 72 hours. Since being established 18 months ago, the service has successfully: • Reduced the number of unscheduled admissions to acute adult inpatient mental health beds; • Brought community and inpatient services closer together to help create a smoother patient journey; • Reduced the waiting time for planned adult acute admissions, and • Reduced the number of initial assessments being carried out in acute wards – releasing resource for treatment. We wish the team every success for the Awards ceremony which will be held in April 2026. 4. IMPLICATIONS 4.1 Financial None 4.2 Human Resources None
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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