Voting rights for Lived Experience members of Integration Joint Boards
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 6th January 2026
Scottish Government accepts ALLIANCE call for voting rights for lived experience, unpaid carer and third sector representatives.
The Scottish Government has put forward legislation to extend voting rights to members with lived experience of the social care, social work and community health system on Integration Joint Boards (IJBs). These include unpaid carers and third sector representatives.
This is expected to come into force in September and marks a step toward ensuring that those who access and support community health and social care services have an equal say in shaping the decisions that affect their communities.
IJBs oversee the planning, commissioning and delivery of community health and social care services locally. Traditionally, voting rights were reserved for representatives from local authorities and NHS Boards.
The Scottish Government has accepted the views of the Feeley Review, the ALLIANCE and the Carers Collaborative that excluding lived experience members from voting undermines their ability to fully participate in IJB decision-making. Granting these rights ensures that their perspectives carry equal weight in shaping services.
The ALLIANCE has consistently advocated for voting rights on IJBs to be extended to all public partners, including lived experience, unpaid carer, and third sector representatives, and is strongly in support of this move. Most recently we called for voting rights to be extended in our response to a Scottish Government consultation, which you can read here.
In the run up to September, further work will be undertaken to establish clear processes that support the changes, including a review of the guidance covering recruitment, appointment, training and support of all IJB members.
The Scottish Government plans to work with public sector partners and existing lived experience representatives to make sure this review addresses the concerns highlighted during the consultation and engagement process. If you would like more information on this, or want to get involved, please contact nationalcareservice@gov.scot.
End of page.
You may also like:
Gordon Moody is running free pilot residential programmes in Scotland for people experiencing gambling harm between February and April.
Continue readingGlobal Intergenerational Congress in Glasgow (29 September-1 October 2026) exploring research, practice and learning across generations.
Continue readingDrop in sessions for senior leaders in social work and social care to learn more about the Leading for the Future leadership programme.
Continue readingEvery Tuesday the Discover Digital team at the ALLIANCE shares a free and trusted digital tool that supports health and wellbeing.
Continue readingThe 'joint statement on prevention' partners have issued a follow-up ahead of the 2026-27 Scottish Budget.
Continue readingReflections from ALLIANCE Lived Experience group members about their role in contributing to the Women’s Health Plan.
Continue readingALLIANCE supports the launch of a new DEAP report sharing learning on meaningful lived experience involvement in mental health policy.
Continue readingOver the year, we have delivered a series of engagement activities with our partners that centre voices of people with lived experience.
Continue readingIn 2025, the Person Centred Voices programme engaged with 9.000 people at over 200 events, to embrace kindness in care.
Continue readingIn 2025, the networks have continued to information share and connect people with experience of heart disease and Long Covid.
Continue readingThe Academy has continued to advocate for long term, meaningful and sustainable change.
Continue readingThe programme continues to raise awareness of how Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) can support children and their families.
Continue readingIn 2025, we have continued to build and strengthen relationships within the third sector and promoted integrated ways of working.
Continue readingIn 2025, the Community Links Worker Programme continued to support people facing challenges such as isolation, poverty and debt.
Continue readingThe Self Management Programme continued to drive the uptake of self management practices in community and health settings.
Continue readingIn 2025, the Scottish Sensory Hub has launched a major campaign on inclusive communication, contributed to consultations, and more.
Continue readingThe Women’s Health Plan Programme continues to represent lived experience priorities in policy development on women’s health.
Continue readingHumans of Scotland continues to champion the voices of disabled people, people living with long term conditions, and carers.
Continue readingIn 2025, the Policy team played a key role in shaping national decision-making and influencing human rights and social security policy.
Continue readingALISS continues to help people find and share information about community assets and services that can support health and wellbeing.
Continue readingThe Digital Health and Social Care Programme has continued to drive transformational change across the sector.
Continue readingThroughout 2025 the membership team has supported members to share their views and experiences and work together to shape change.
Continue readingRegister now to join Scotland's Disability Summit, taking place on 21 February 2026.
Continue readingEvent calls for human rights to be a priority ahead of the Scottish Parliament Elections in 2026.
Continue readingNES are calling for interviewees from minority ethnic backgrounds to help refresh their 'Informed about Dementia' learning resources.
Continue reading