Agenda and minutes

No apologies had been received.

The Chair welcomed Mr Jim Wilson to his first meeting of the IJB Audit Committee as Independent Member following his formal appointment to the role by the IJB in February 2020.

The Chair sought any verbal declarations of interest pertaining to items on the agenda.

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE noted there were none.

Monday 9 December 2019

Mr Malcolm Dickson advised that, under item 8 of the previous minutes, there was mention of the introduction of a locality structure for multi-discipline team operations and queried if it was in addition to the GP practice clusters. Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham clarified that multidisciplinary working remained a central workstream of the Primary Care Improvement Plan, but the minute referred to the actions ongoing to roll out integrated locality working across all health and social care services, such as already in place in Cheviot. 

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 December 2019 were approved.

Action Tracker

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE updated and noted the action tracker.

Mrs Jill Stacey gave an overview of the report of which members were asked to note, in terms of national context oversight. The report presented the opportunity to reflect on the findings in a local context and delve into shared experience, such as financial sustainability. 

Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham detailed the financial recovery and sustainability work underway within NHS Borders (NHSB) and Scottish Borders Council (SBC), with their respective impact on the Integration Joint Board (IJB) and its delegated services. The Chair advised that, despite a reserves policy in place, there are no local IJB reserves accumulated due to the continued financial pressures. Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham advised members that the IJB had recently allocated monies from the Transformation Fund to support the local authority care commissioning budget. 

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE noted the report. 

Mrs Gillian Woolman gave an overview of the content of the plan for 2019/20 and highlighted several elements including the key audit risks; the continued interim position of the Chief Financial Officer, hospital set aside sum and ongoing financial sustainability of the IJB led by both partner organisations. 

Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham advised members that the advert for permanent appointment of the Chief Financial Officer was to be published again in four months time. 

The Chair highlighted the rising concern locally over Covid-19 and the impact it may have on delivering against timescales. Assurance was given that finance and audit colleagues and key officers would remain in close communication regarding any affects / delays, with no punitive action taken if timescales slip. 

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE approved the External Annual Audit Plan 2019/20.

Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham gave an overview of a recently consolidated improvement Action Plan in response to the ministerial and self-evaluation reviews in May 2019, and the associated Best Value areas of improvement arising from the Scottish Borders Council Best Value Assurance Report published in October 2019. Presentation to committee members enabled an opportunity to scrutinise and challenge the performance against action plans, whilst mindful of the often subjective nature of the content.  

A discussion ensued regarding the progress that has been made on the action plan and it was highlighted that regular executive meetings with Chief Executives, Chairs and the Chief Officer had been arranged to facilitate integrated movement. 

Mr Malcolm Dickson queried the mention of a recommissioning exercise taking into account the modelled demography changes over the next 5 to 10 years. Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham advised there was an intention to form a commissioning board, to progress the Strategic Implementation Plan, and look at recommissioning residential / nursing care, care at home and reablement. 

Mr Malcolm Dickson also requested that additional social, community and primary care measures are incorporated in future performance reports.

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE noted Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership’s Action Plan and the links to the associated Best Value areas of improvement (Appendix 1).

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE requested that the updates on progress against the consolidated improvement Action Plan be provided to the IJB Audit Committee on a six monthly basis.

Mrs Jill Stacey gave an overview of the new Risk Management Policy and refreshed Risk Management Strategy for the IJB; advising of the opportunity for IJB Audit Committee to scrutinise risk management arrangements. As previously agreed the IJB would receive bi annual risk updates, with the last in December 2019, as a robust risk management within its governance arrangements assists in making informed business decisions and provide options to deal with potential problems.

Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham added that he reviews the risk register on a quarterly basis and therefore informs the risk appetite through his operational and strategic roles. 

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE endorsed the Risk Management Policy (Appendix 1) and refreshed Risk Management Strategy (Appendix 2).

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE recommended them to the full Board for approval.

Mrs Jill Stacey gave an overview of the content of the report and highlighted the set areas of focus for the year. Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham added that regular performance reporting would link in with the current quarterly performance reports, taken through the Strategic Planning Group (SPG) and then formally presented to the IJB. 

Mrs Gillian Woolman welcomed the Internal Audit Plan. 

Mr Malcolm Dickson queried the ability to obtain cross referenced brief descriptions of the relevant strategic risks or very high risks. Mrs Jill Stacey confirmed this information would be added into the Internal Audit Plan, under each relevant area of potential affect. 

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE approved the proposed Internal Audit Annual Plan 2020/21 for the Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board (Appendix 1).

The Chair advised it would be his last committee meeting as his term of office in the role as Chair would Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham thanked Cllr Tom Weatherston for his time in the role of Audit Committee Chair and advised the successor was yet to be appointed but would be in place for the next meeting of the committee.

Monday 8 June 2020 - 2.00pm to 4.00pm

Committee Room 2, Scottish Borders Council HQ

The Chair advised that the next meeting of the Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board Audit Committee was due to be held on Monday 8 June 2020,  2.00pm to 4.00pm, Committee Room 4, Scottish Borders Council HQ.

The formal meeting concluded at 3.30pm.

Signature: ................................................. Chairman