Health and Social Care Integration roundup 2025

In 2025, we have continued to build and strengthen relationships within the third sector and promoted integrated ways of working.

This year, we held the first Community of Practice – Lived Experience hybrid session. There was positive interest in this session, with those who were unable to attend keen for another opportunity in the future. We gathered insights from group members around what they wanted to cover during the session to ensure it continues to be member led. The introduction of Virtual Coffee Mornings has strengthened continuity between quarterly sessions, offering a safe, informal space for connection and timely discussion. These meetings enable members to discuss and get feedback on pressing priorities in real time. Clarity around paid participation for people with lived experience has been a common theme this year and we will continue to share knowledge and resources on this.

Through the IJB Lived Experience Representative Network, we have met with engagement officers from both Fife and Renfrewshire HSCP to support them with the recruitment of new IJB Lived Experience Representatives. This has been a great opportunity to promote the value of the IJB Lived Experience Representative network and to share the work the group has done with the More Than Equal Report and the creation of the Role Descriptor document. We have also supported members of the network to get involved in conferences and events. The disparity of experiences of the lived experience representatives on IJBs across Scotland is vast and our members appreciate the opportunities to share their insights and to have their voices heard. For example, we delivered a workshop at the SCVO Gathering in partnership with Volunteer Scotland, to showcase lived experience leadership on IJBs. Through resources and events, we continue to support improvements in representation and recognition of lived experience in system governance.

We continue to publish Connected Communities case studies, highlighting examples of successful integrated working within health and social care in Scotland, focusing on organisations providing vital support to communities under often challenging constraints.

Our publication, the Integration Journey: A Decade of Health and Social Care Integration in Scotland (2014-2024), was launched at the ALLIANCE annual conference in June. The report highlights progress and challenges, with case studies showcasing the third sector’s contribution, and a shared vision for integrated, person centred care. The workshop created space for reflection and action, featuring a panel discussion with third sector leaders and an IJB Lived Experience Representative, chaired by Dr Anne Hendry (Director, IFIC Scotland). Participants engaged in creative activities to explore how they can support integration and transformational change. The session received positive feedback, including an invitation to present at the RNIB’s Scottish Vision Strategy Conference in September.

We launched the HSCP Connect series in partnership with Health and Social Care Scotland, to create new opportunities for collaboration and knowledge while strengthening our relationships with HSCPs. Events have focused on self management, community engagement, and values based decision making. Feedback from attendees indicated that many plan to implement changes, such as embedding community engagement in strategic planning, demonstrating the role of the series in promoting and scaling good practice across the sector.

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