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Lived experience voices gain equal standing on IJBs

  • Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 1st September 2026

People with lived experience will now help shape local health and social care priorities as equal partners.

Ticking over into the month of September marks a significant change in health and social care governance across Scotland.

From 1 September, amended legislation means full voting rights will be granted to people with lived experience, unpaid carers and third sector representatives on local bodies delivering health and social care services.

Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) came into effect with the Public Bodies (Joint Working) Scotland Act 2014. The intention was to enshrine in law the requirement for local authorities and health boards to work in partnership to deliver services.

IJBs oversee the planning, commissioning and delivery of a wide range of local health and social care services. They bring together local authorities and NHS boards to make joint decisions on many aspects of health and social care such as GP services, social care, or mental health support.

This change advocated and campaigned for years by Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) strengthens the influence of local communities in health and social care decision-making.

Sara Redmond, Chief Officer at the ALLIANCE, said: “It is vital people with lived experience have an equal voice in shaping the decisions that affect their lives and communities. Extending full voting rights recognises the expertise, insight and perspective they bring to health and social care planning, ensuring that decision-making is more inclusive, informed and responsive to local needs.”

The changes also enhance local democracy and civic participation by ensuring people with direct experience of services have a meaningful role in shaping priorities, planning and strategy.

Sandra Auld, lived experience representative for Perth and Kinross, said: “I firmly believe the much-welcomed legislation will drive further cultural change and move towards parity of representation which addresses the existing imbalance of power. Additional knowledge combined with lived experience, will now routinely be included in IJB’s discussion and decision-making.”

By extending full voting rights to lived experience, unpaid carers and third sector representatives, the amendment recognises the value of their perspectives and insights. It ensures that those most closely affected by decisions have a stronger voice in shaping the design, delivery and improvement of the services they use.

Further information about the changes to voting rights on IJBs and the ALLIANCE’s work in this area can be found here.

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