Agenda and minutes

No apologies had been received.

The Chair reminded members of the rotational nature of the position IJB Audit Committee Chair, thus ending Cllr Tom Weatherston term in the role as of March 2020. Prior to the meeting, Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham had made contact with the IJB Chair and Vice Chair to seek formal agreement to the following membership amendments under the Urgent Decisions 25.1 Standing Order following recommendation from NHS Borders; the appointment of Mrs Karen Hamilton as Chair of IJB Audit Committee, the withdrawal of Mr Malcolm Dickson as a Voting Member of the IJB Audit Committee and the appointment of Mrs Sonya Lam as Member of IJB Audit Committee. These amendments were subsequently approved and a formal report would be presented to the IJB meeting in August for ratification.  

The Chair and Sonya Lam were welcomed in their new roles. 

The Chair thanked Mr Malcolm Dickson for his input and support on the IJB Audit Committee.

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 March 2020

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 March 2020 were approved.

Action Tracker

The Chair asked for an update on the permanency of the IJB Chief Financial Officer post. Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham advised discussions were ongoing with the Chief Executives of the partner bodies in order to progress the future of the appointment. An update would be given verbally at the next meeting. 

The Chair sought clarity on the progress of introducing additional social care measures to the quarterly performance report presented to the IJB. Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham confirmed the development of these measures were underway and hoped to have some addition in the next formal report. 

A discussion ensued on the response, new risks and resulting delays on service / work areas from Covid-19. The Chair asked that significant changes be highlighted when identified. Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham and Mrs Jill Stacey confirmed a full risk register review would be undertaken as part of Covid-19 response planning. 

Action: Officers to provide updates on service areas experiencing delay in as a result of pandemic response. 

Mrs Gillian Woolman advised of the some expected degree of pause on portfolio areas and resulting delay in the audit plan timeline, up to 30 November 2020.

The Scottish Borders Health & Social Care Integration Joint Board Audit Committee updated and noted the action tracker.

Mr Jill Stacey presented the Internal Audit Annual Assurance Report for the year to 31 March 2020 for the Scottish Borders Health and Social Care IIJB, which includes the Chief Internal Auditor’s independent assurance opinion on the adequacy of IJB’s overall control environment. Significant improvements in strategic leadership continuity and financial reporting arrangements, as well as some challenges around pace of integration, were highlighted as part of the report. 

A discussion ensued on the progress required to achieve an improved grading and the integral relationship with the development of the health and social care Strategic Implementation Plan, somewhat accelerated through Covid-19 response planning. 

The Scottish Borders Health & Social Care Integration Joint Board Audit Committee considered the report, and assurances contained therein, and provided commentary thereon.

Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham presented the Annual Governance Statement for 2019/20 to be published in the Annual Report and Accounts. The overall governance arrangements of the IJB are reported to be operating adequately, with a few areas of development still required for full compliance. 

The Chair asked that reference to stakeholders be made in terms of engagement rather than consultation to reflect actual practice, for example in the initial Locality Working Groups meetings held at the start of the year.

Mr Asif Haseeb confirmed it would be the current IJB Chair who would sign off the Annual Governance Statement and Audited Accounts, due to the recent rotation of the position. 

The Scottish Borders Health & Social Care Integration Joint Board Audit Committee considered the details of the Annual Governance Statement 2019/20 to ensure it reflects the risk environment and governance in place to achieve objectives, and acknowledged the actions identified by Management to improve internal controls and governance arrangements. 

The Scottish Borders Health & Social Care Integration Joint Board Audit Committee approved that it be published in the Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20 of the Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board, with amendments made.

Mr Mike Porteous provided a verbal update on the financial delays currently experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, due to the availability of data for reports and the Annual Accounts. The delays of around three months have been highlighted to senior management and discussed with auditors. 

Mrs Gillian Woolman advised that the conclusion of annual accounts for local authorities and IJBs was now expected to be 30 November 2020. 

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE noted the update. 

Mrs Jill Stacey provided an overview of the Annual Report and Self Assessment for 2019/20, outlining areas of good practice, lessons learned and areas of improvement. 

The Chair queried the concern over unmet independence principles of good practice and Mrs Jill Stacey advised this was felt across all IJBs, somewhat mitigated by the recent appointment of the independent member of the IJB Audit Committee. 

Cllr Tom Weatherston thanked Mrs Jill Stacey for the great support provided in his previous role as Chair. 

The Scottish Borders Health & Social Care Integration Joint Board Audit Committee approved the IJB Audit Committee Annual Report 2019/20 which incorporates its selfassessments using the CIPFA Audit Committees Guidance.

The Scottish Borders Health & Social Care Integration Joint Board Audit Committee agreed that the IJB Audit Committee Annual Report 2018/19 should be presented to the IJB.

Members raised concern over the ability to continue communication and engagement with the public during the current pandemic and moving forward. Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham explained that the use of Microsoft Teams for virtual communication would be extensively used and facilitated as best possible. Further work would be required to identify good networks with disadvantaged populations; this would be discussed at the next meeting.

Propose to move from Monday 17 August 2020 to Monday 21 September 2020 at 2.00pm.

The Chair advised that the next set meeting date of the Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board Audit Committee was due to be held on Monday 17 August 2020, 2.00pm to 4.00pm.

Action: Mr Mike Porteous and Mrs Jill Stacey would confirm if this date would be going ahead or postponed to September 2020 in line with the Annual Accounts.

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