Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland
People at the Centre

Become a member

IJB Lived Experience Representative Voting Rights

  • Area of Work:
  • Type: Post

Learn about how the ALLIANCE is supporting the introduction of voting rights for lived experience representatives on IJBs.

From 1 September 2026, more Integration Joint Board (IJB) members will have voting rights in decisions about local health and social care services.

In February 2026, the Scottish Parliament passed the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Integration Joint Boards) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025.

The amendment order updates earlier rules about who is allowed to vote on IJBs by extending voting rights to unpaid carer, service user, and third sector representatives. These are people who represent their communities and provide lived experience insight about accessing and providing health and social care services.

The ALLIANCE is leading on work to support IJBs and service user representatives – who we refer to as lived experience representatives – through the transition and beyond. This work will ensure that the move to full voting rights is implemented meaningfully, consistently and with the right support structures in place across Scotland.

This programme will focus on:

  • Supporting current service user lived experience members to transition into the new legislative framework, ensuring they feel confident, supported, informed, and valued in their evolving role.
  • Designing and supporting a national recruitment programme.
  • Establishing and supporting implementation of clear and transparent role expectations.
  • Recommending and delivering support to induction and training.
  • Ensuring ongoing support structures are in place.

For more information, please check out these resources:

Want to learn more? Get in touch with us! integration@alliance-scotland.org.uk

We will continue to keep this page updated with new resources.