Inverclyde HSCP sets two-year budget

Inverclyde Integration Joint Board (IJB), the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP)’s governing body, approved its two-year budget on Monday, March 25.

In February, the HSCP launched a public consultation on its savings proposals, announcing it was facing a funding gap of £5.2 million over the next two years.

The Partnership asked staff and residents seven carefully crafted questions to understand what matters most to them.

Following the budget engagement, the Partnership revised its savings options to reflect the responses, and the IJB has now approved these plans.

Councillor Robert Moran, Chair of the Inverclyde Integration Joint Board, said: “This is one of the most challenging financial situations the IJB has ever encountered, and it is with the greatest consideration that these difficult decisions have had to be made.

“We appreciate the input from everyone who participated in the budget engagement, as your views helped guide our decision-making. We have eliminated increasing our charges for community alarms, day services, and transport and have focused on protecting frontline health and social care services - this is in line with our statutory duties.

“As we proceed with these savings, we will continue to engage with staff, service users, and our commissioned services. Our priority is to continue providing the best care possible to those who need us the most, which will remain at the heart of everything we do.”

The IJB's approval of a two-year budget will provide the Partnership with financial stability, the ability to plan for future funding challenges, and the capacity to deliver savings over 24/26.

Approved savings include a review of commissioning arrangements, a redesign of Day Services, a business support review, a review of the HSCP senior staff structure, a redesign of our front doors, a review of long-term vacancies and adult services self-directed supports.

A complete list of savings is below.

The HSCP is governed by an independent body, the Integration Joint Board (or IJB).

Inverclyde Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde fund the HSCP.

Complete list of approved savings

Service

Saving type

Savings title

Summary

Community Care & Health

Service efficiency

Day Service redesign

Efficiency will be made by absorbing service into our wider day service provision.

Community Care & Health

Service efficiency

Review of Community Alarms service

To find efficiencies within the service to achieve a modest saving

Community Care & Health

Service redesign / efficiency

Independent living services

A service redesign to consider efficiencies in the delivery of services, particularly small equipment and adaptations

Community Care & Health

Service redesign / efficiency

Supported Living Services

Review Supported Living services across the HSCP, including our in-house Inverclyde Supported Living Service for adults with Learning Disability who require sleepover arrangements.

Community Care & Health

Service redesign / efficiency

Review of integrated front doors

Conduct a review of the staffing model required to fully integrate advice services into our existing front doors.

Finance Planning & Resources

Service redesign

Business Support Review

The HSCP is currently working on the review of business support

All

Service redesign

Review of HSCP senior staff structure

A review of the roles and responsibilities of the HSCP senior staff

Children & Families

Service reduction

Education placement support

To cease funding of education placement support

Children & Families

Service reduction

Children’s community supports

Through redesign, we will support disabled children and young people in moving towards greater use of community alternatives.

Community Care & Health

Service efficiency

Transition of respite service

Decommissioning Hillend Respite Unit, which has been closed since March 2020

Community Care & Health

Service reduction

Residential/Nursing care home beds

A reduction of 6 long-term care beds over two years during 2025/26 and 2026/27.

Community Care & Health/Finance Planning & Resources

Service reduction

Redesign of Strategic Services

A redesign of strategic services

Community Care & Health/Mental Health

Service redesign / efficiency

Homemakers Service

Service will be transferred from adult services into the management of our social care service.

All

Service reduction

Review of Commissioning arrangements

Commissioning arrangements are to be reviewed for efficiencies.

All

Service reduction

Review of long-term vacancies

Complete a review of any long-term vacancies held in both Council and Health structures.

All

Service reduction

Adult services self-directed supports

A review of self-directed supports will be conducted to ensure that needs are being met and that the supports meet our eligibility criteria.