The Integration Joint Board of Aberdeenshire Council met on Wednesday 27 May 2026 to discuss a range of critical health and social care matters. Key decisions included the approval of the 2026/27 revenue budget, the adoption of a draft workforce plan, and the selection of Inverurie as the preferred location for a new walk-in clinic pilot. The Board also noted an improved financial position for 2025/26 and reviewed progress on equalities mainstreaming and the market facilitation plan.

IJB Revenue Budget Update

The Board noted an improved unaudited year-end financial position for 2025/26, with an underspend of £14 million. This was attributed to tighter governance, stronger forecasting, savings delivery, and active in-year management. Despite this positive outcome, significant underlying demand-led and cost pressures remain, necessitating continued active financial management in 2026/27. The Board endorsed the continuation of strengthened financial management arrangements and noted the progress on the three-year savings programme. A further report will be brought to the Board detailing proposals developed with funding partners to confirm a refreshed shared risk appetite, establish a strengthened jointly governed approach to reserves and financial risk, and outline priority transformation and service redesign actions. Councillor Anne Stirling, co-chair of the IJB, proposed an additional recommendation that the recovery plan be stood down, which was discussed at length and will be brought back to the Board in July following discussions with funding partners.

Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership Draft Market Facilitation Plan

The Board considered the draft Market Facilitation Plan for Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP), which sets out how the partnership intends to shape, support, and sustain its local care and support market over the coming years. The plan is grounded in evidence and demographic insight, reflecting changing population needs, increasing complexity of care, and workforce and financial pressures. It highlights the importance of the market's fragility, particularly in care at home, care homes, and community-based supports. The plan commits to working in partnership with independent and third sector providers and service users to achieve good outcomes. Priority areas for action include supporting market sustainability and resilience, encouraging innovation, improving workforce stability, strengthening commissioning approaches, and enhancing early engagement with providers. The Board was asked to approve the plan as a final version, noting it as one of the four key supporting documents to the AHSCP Strategic Plan.

Strategic Delivery Plan 2025/26 - 2028/29 - Quarterly Performance Report

This was the first quarterly performance report for the new Strategic Delivery Plan, covering the final quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The report highlighted key areas of progress, including the completion of Phase 1 of the Community Hospital Strategic Review and the approval of the Aberdeenshire Adult Carer Strategy. The format of the report will be further developed in consultation with the IJB Short Life Working Group, with outcomes to be reported in the next quarterly report. The report will also be shared with the Communities and Area Committees.

Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership Draft Workforce Plan 2026-2029

The Board considered the draft Workforce Plan, which outlines how the AHSCP will ensure it has the right workforce with the right skills to deliver safe, effective, and sustainable services over the next three years. The plan addresses challenges such as increasing demand, workforce pressures, and the need for service transformation. It is structured around core priorities including addressing recruitment and retention, ensuring staff have the necessary skills, changing service delivery models, supporting workforce health and wellbeing, and strengthening workforce planning. The plan acknowledges the increasing demand for services, workforce pressures, and financial constraints, emphasizing the critical role of partnership working. The Board was asked to approve the plan.

Grampian Vaccination and Immunisation Annual Report 2025

The Board received the annual report on vaccination and immunisation services across NHS Grampian. The report highlighted continued delivery of high-quality services, with uptake levels generally meeting or exceeding national averages. Key developments included the introduction of RSV vaccination programmes, enhancements to the childhood schedule, and refinements to COVID-19 and influenza eligibility. The report also noted persistent challenges, including funding constraints for new programmes, workforce shortages, and data quality issues. Equity remained a central theme, with ongoing work to address gaps in uptake among certain ethnic communities, homeschooled children, and residents in areas of greater deprivation. Aberdeenshire demonstrated strong overall uptake, particularly in rural communities, but noted inequalities in deprived and ethnically diverse populations. The Board was asked to consider if it was assured by the report and to instruct the Chief Officer to provide an annual report in 2027.

Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership Walk-in Clinic Update

The Board was asked to agree on Inverurie as the preferred location for an Aberdeenshire Walk-In Centre, as part of a wider Grampian pilot. This national test of change aims to improve access to same-day care for urgent but non-emergency needs, operating from 12 noon to 8 pm, seven days a week. The service, to be delivered by GMED, is funded by the Scottish Government for 12 months. Inverurie was selected based on data analysis of population need, accessibility, and urgent care activity, offering a broad potential catchment across central Aberdeenshire. While accessibility challenges remain for some communities, particularly those reliant on public transport, these have been considered within the impact assessment. The Board was asked to agree to Inverurie as the preferred pilot location.

Membership Updates and Appointments to Committees

The Board received updates on membership and appointments. Dr John Blake was appointed as the General Practitioner's Primary Care Advisor to the Board as a non-voting member. The Board noted an existing stakeholder vacancy on the Clinical and Adult Social Work Governance Committee and that work would continue to identify a nominee. Members were also informed of upcoming legislative changes from the Scottish Government regarding voting rights for carer and third sector representatives on the IJB, necessitating changes to the integration scheme and governance handbook.

Equalities Mainstreaming and Progress Report 2024-2026

The Board considered the Equalities Mainstreaming and Progress Report, which provides assurance that statutory equality duties are being met and that equality and inclusion are being embedded across the partnership's work. Progress during the reporting period focused on embedding equalities in policy and planning, service improvements, and workforce capability. The report highlighted positive examples of engagement with local people and staff to inform service planning and redesign. The Board was asked to consider and provide comment on the report.

Use of Special Urgency Powers 2025/26

The Board received the annual report on the use of the Chief Officer's delegated powers to take decisions by reason of special urgency. It was highlighted that these powers were only required on one occasion during the financial year, indicating that normal decision-making processes were functioning effectively. The Board was asked to acknowledge this use of delegated powers for assurance and transparency.