Scottish Borders Council

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Via Microsoft Teams

Contact: Iris Bishop Tele: 018/96 825525  E-mail  iris.bishop@borders.scot.nhs.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Announcements & Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies had been received from Miss I Bishop, Board Secretary and Mr Andrew Bone, Director of Finance NHS Borders.

 

The Chair welcomed Miss Laura Prebble, PA to Rob McCulloch-Graham, as the minute taker for this meeting.

 

The Chair confirmed the meeting was quorate.

2.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

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.

 

3.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 129 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Extra Ordinary meeting of the Integration Joint Board Audit Committee held on 21 October 2020 were approved.

4.

Matters Arising pdf icon PDF 71 KB

Minutes:

4.1 Action 9:  Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham confirmed that progress had been made and a paper would be presented to the Integration Joint Board (IJB) on 16 December 2020.  He further advised that the Strategic Planning Group (SPG) had reviewed the lessons learnt around delayed discharges and suggested several areas of work to be taken forward.  

 

 

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE agreed that Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham share the papers with the IJB Audit Committee to enable their understanding of the impact on services both nationally and locally.   

 

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

 

5.

Progress Update on delivery of Internal Audit Annual Plan 2020/21 for Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mrs Jill Stacey provided an overview of the content of the report and highlighted that COVID19 had impacted on both partner organisations in terms of internal audits.  She confirmed the new format going forward and that planning would continue to be reviewed.  

 

Further discussion focused on: impact on timing for contracts and commissioning; the functioning of the IJB; and the potential for the IJB to be the strategic arm of both partner organisations.

 

Cllr T Weatherston enquired about the consultation process and public perceptions.  Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham commented that during the pandemic intermediate care at the Borders General Hospital (BGH) had been impacted.  There was an intention to redesign the functions of the Community Hospitals to enable intermediate care to be provided within communities.  Engagement would be taking place over the next few months prior to any direction being agreed by the IJB for issue to partners.  

 

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE considered whether it was satisfied with the progress made in the first six months of the year to deliver the approved Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board Internal Audit Annual Plan 2020/21 (Appendix 1).

 

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE considered the list of Internal Audit reports by partners’ Internal Auditors presented to their respective Audit Committees that were relevant to SBIJB for assurance purposes (Appendix 2), considered the assurances contained therein, and provided any commentary thereon.

 

6.

Progress on implementation of Internal Audit Recommendations

Minutes:

Mrs Jill Stacey provided an overview of the content of the report and highlighted the move towards a 12 month reporting cycle.  The internal audit role was for the NHS/SBC internal audit teams who worked for the IJB and partner organisations.  She commented that it was helpful to see the wider information rather than just the parts relevant to Health and Social Care Integration.  

 

Ms Sonya Lam enquired if there was an analysis/summary of the document.  

 

The Chair enquired about cross referencing and highlighted delayed discharges as an area that impacted on both partners.  Mr Rob McCulloch-Graham commented that NHS Borders internal audit had approached the IJB in order to focus on delayed discharges as performance in that area had declined since the start of the pandemic.  He further advised that a report had been produced which made several recommendations that would be monitored through the NHS Borders Audit Committee as they had commissioned the work.  The report would also be shared with the IJB.  

 

Cllr John Greenwell enquired about attendance and monitoring in primary and social care.  Mr McCulloch-Graham commented that the partner organisations were responsible for monitoring attendance of their employees and there were no significant issues in terms of sickness absence.  

 

Mrs Stacey confirmed that progress had been made and there were 3 open audit recommendations to be addressed.  

 

Further discussion focused on: directions and measurement elements; annual performance report; alignment of performance to objectives; revised governance arrangements; and workforce planning.

 

Cllr Tom Weatherston commented that Unions had recommended that care workers be given a substantial pay increase to £15 an hour and that the Scottish Government had confirmed a £500 one off bonus payment NHS staff.  Mr McCulloch-Graham commented that it was a national matter and suggested in the future the carer’s role may be moved to undertake more intermediate care which might justify an increase in salary.   

 

The Chair commented that a Scotland wide national care service was being explored.   Ms Sonya Lam enquired when the next Strategic Plan would be released given the current plan was due to conclude in 2021.  She also noted a blurring of professionals’ roles and suggested each profession should be recognised as having it’s own unique contribution, identified according to their regulation.  Mr McCulloch-Graham confirmed that there was legislation in Scotland to allow the delivery of generic tasks to be carried out by a single professional rather than by multiple agencies.  He suggested in 2021 the commissioning role would be reviewed with the same 3 clear objectives, and capacity and structure would be reviewed as the IJB matured.  

 

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE acknowledged the progress made by Management in implementing Internal Audit recommendations to improve internal controls and governance, and mitigate risks

 

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE considered whether it is satisfied with the progress or whether any further action is required.

 

The SCOTTISH BORDERS HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE noted that Internal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

The Chair confirmed that none had been notified.

8.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Minutes:

The Chair confirmed that, subject to approval by the IJB on 16 December, the next meeting of the IJB Audit Committee would be held on Monday 8 March 2021 from 2.00pm to 4pm via MS Teams.

 

Signature:………………………………….. Chair

 

 

 

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