Chief Officer statement to IJB – 5 September 2025

Statement made by Gail Woodcock, Chief Officer on Friday 05 September to a meeting of Falkirk’s Integration Joint Board.

As Chief Officer, I want to acknowledge the concern that has been raised about the IJB’s decision in March to change the way care is provided at Tygetshaugh Housing with Care. I know this has caused anxiety for residents, families, and staff – and generated considerable discussion.

While I want to remind everyone of the reasons behind the decision, I should also outline what this is not. This is not a proposal to reduce the level of care people receive. This is about delivering the care people need within the resources we have available.

The IJB is facing a very significant financial challenge. Over the next three years, there is a gap of £21 million between the funding we have and the cost of delivering health and social care services for people in Falkirk. We are not legally allowed to overspend our budget, and if we are unable to contain our spend within the budget we have been allocated, the Council and NHS would have to provide additional funding. With both of these partner organisations already facing significant budget challenges, deep cuts to other services would have to be made to provide additional IJB spending.

At Tygetshaugh, currently less than half of the available staff capacity is required to meet the residents assessed care needs. At the same time, there are people elsewhere in Falkirk waiting for their care needs to be met. This means our resources are not lined up with where people’s needs are, and we are not making best use of public money.

It’s also important to be clear that not every resident at Tygetshaugh requires care, and those who do can already choose how their care is provided, as is their right under the Social Care Self-directed Support Act. Care also cannot legally be tied directly to a tenancy. Together, these factors mean that the current model at Tygetshaugh is not an efficient model.

I know that change is difficult for everyone involved, and how important Tygetshaugh is for residents, families, staff and the local community. We want Tygetshaugh to remain home to its residents for as long as they need it, with the support they need to maximise their independence and quality of life.

That is why we are working closely with residents and families through regular communication and meetings to discuss individual circumstances, and we will continue to provide support throughout and after this change. We are supporting our staff through the Council’s HR procedures, with the preference to offer alternative roles for colleagues choosing redeployment.

The IJB are making, and will continue to be asked to take, difficult decisions, but they are necessary if we are to make sure that as many people as possible in Falkirk can get the care they need, within the resources we have.

We will continue to take an open and collaborative approach with residents, families, staff and partners, listening to concerns and supporting people through change. Our shared aim is to protect what matters most – safe, compassionate care that helps people live well, now and in the future.

Further information about this work is available within the FAQ webpage, and within Item 6: Chief Officer Report presented to the Integration Joint Board on 5 September 2025.