The Clinical and Adult Social Work Governance Committee of Aberdeenshire Council was scheduled to discuss a range of important issues, including the ongoing risks within the health and social care partnership, and the pressures faced by the Buchan Health Visiting and School Nursing Team. The committee was also set to review the action log and consider reports on risk management improvements.

Risk Register and Risk Assurance

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing the Risk Register and Risk Assurance, with a report outlining key risks and proposed improvements to risk management. The report recommended that the committee note the update on the work of the Clinical and Adult Social Work Group (CASWG) regarding risk reviews, acknowledge the work commissioned by the Chief Officer to strengthen risk management and assurance, and agree to receive further updates as this work progresses.

The report highlighted two key Integration Joint Board (IJB) risks: Resources provided are insufficient to meet statutory duties, standards, and requirements and Child, adult, and public protection failures. It detailed progress on managing these risks, including ongoing work to address workforce sustainability, care at home delivery and market stability, care homes and very sheltered housing, governance, assurance and learning, mental health, learning disability and complex care, safeguarding and adult protection, and primary care/asylum and new Scots.

The report also detailed risk management improvement work, including a review of the Risk and Assurance Group's performance and the Risk Register. This review identified issues such as duplication in risk recording, listing service issues as risks, limited action plans, poor compliance with review timescales, and a need for clearer ownership. Work had commenced to implement improvements, including reviewing risks with owners and handlers, which had reduced the number of recorded risks. Recommendations to align risk registers with the Health & Social Care Partnership leadership and management structure were also approved.

Buchan Health Visiting and School Nursing Team

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the pressures experienced by the School Nursing and Health Visiting Services in Buchan. A report detailed ongoing staffing challenges, service adaptations, prioritisation of critical workloads, and efforts to support staff wellbeing and recruitment. The report outlined the separation of Health Visiting and School Nursing management, the creation of a North Aberdeenshire School Nursing Team, and the adoption of a geographical focus to reduce travel. The team was prioritising statutory and critical cases, using clinics and digital solutions where necessary, while continually re-assessing risk.

The report noted concerns about the risks of not delivering the full universal health visiting pathway, including potential missed early interventions and developmental assessments. It was acknowledged that efforts were underway to support staff wellbeing and that recruitment remained challenging. The committee was to consider recommendations to recognise and endorse the temporary prioritisation of critical and statutory workload, endorse the continued use of multi-agency support, and support urgent workforce planning and funding solutions.

Action Log

The committee was to review the Action Log, which detailed outstanding actions from previous meetings. Updates were to be provided on various items, including local control over priority areas, risk register health visiting, professional oversight for care at home staffing, mental health/learning disability/drug and alcohol governance group updates, the Stonehaven Dental Facility, locum budget pressures, IR35 checks, and the neurodevelopmental diagnostic pathway.

Public Sector Equality Duty

The committee was scheduled to consider and, if so desired, adopt a resolution regarding the Public Sector Equality Duty. This involved having due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between those who share protected characteristics and those who do not. The committee was also to consider the contents of any Integrated Impact Assessment provided and take them into account when reaching a decision.

Other Business

The meeting was also scheduled to include the confirmation of the minute of the previous meeting held on 10 February 2026 and a discussion on matters of escalation. The committee was also to agree meeting dates for the remainder of 2026.