Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA) for the Integration Joint Board: Roles, Responsibilities and Membership Guidance (Update)

Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment Template

1. Brief Summary

Type of proposal:

• Decision of a strategic nature relating to the rights and wellbeing of children.

Name the proposal, and describe its overall aims and intended purpose.

The Public Bodies (Joint Working) Integration Joint Boards) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 (“the Order”) Scottish Statutory Instrument will come into force on 1 September 2026.

The Order amends the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 so that unpaid carer, service user and third sector representatives on Integration Joint Boards have voting rights. These members are collectively referred to as “lived experience” representatives, and represent the lived reality of accessing and providing services in their communities, providing valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities IJBs should consider in its planning. Further information can be found in the Order’s Policy Note.

The Order’s Policy Note sets out the commitment to address concerns raised during the SSI’s engagement through a review of the Integration Joint Board: Roles, Responsibilities and Membership: Statutory Guidance. This includes guidance on best practice for reviewing recruitment processes; codes of conduct; investment and support needs to ensure there is a robust network around the lived experience representatives to help them discharge the added responsibilities linked to voting rights.

The purpose of the guidance is to meet the Policy Note commitment to address concerns mentioned above and to provide support to IJBs on the new voting rights which have been extended to lived experience representatives. Its aim is to make it easier for IJBs and their members to understand the new voting rights position and explain how these impact on voting and day-to day IJB business. The guidance has been reviewed and updated in collaboration with a Short Life Working Group comprised of public sector partners, associated support organisations and lived experience representatives. This forms a central role in the successful implementation of the SSI.

A separate CRWIA was previously published for the SSI which can be accessed using the following link: The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Integration Joint Boards) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025.

Start date of proposal’s development: 1st January 2026

Start date of CRWIA process: 19^th May 2026

2. With reference given to the requirements of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, which aspects of the proposal are relevant to/impact upon children’s rights?

The guidance has been reviewed and updated to take account of the changes to IJB voting membership, and forms a central role in successful implementation of the SSI. Neither the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Integration Joint Boards) (Scotland) Order 2014, nor the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 provides specific age requirements for IJB members, however appointments would be in accordance with the public appointments guidance, which stipulates that an individual requires to be at least 16 years of age.^[1] All current IJB members are however aged 18 or over as far as we are aware. Therefore, the impact of the guidance review on the UNCRC requirements is neutral.

3. Please provide a summary of the evidence gathered which will be used to inform your decision-making and the content of the proposal

• existing research/reports/policy expertise

Not applicable.

• consultation/feedback from stakeholders

Not applicable.

• consultation/feedback directly from children and young people

Not applicable.

4. Further to the evidence described at ‘3’ have you identified any 'gaps' in evidence which may prevent determination of impact? If yes, please provide an explanation of how they will be addressed

No gaps identified.

5. Analysis of Evidence

Consultation in the form of a survey which covered various aspects of the guidance review was conducted with our SLWG and other stakeholders including IJB Chairs/Vice Chairs, and IJB Chief Officers. The consultation findings did not identify any impacts on children’s rights and wellbeing.

6. What changes (if any) have been made to the proposal as a result of this assessment?

No changes made.

Conclusion

7. As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all UNCRC requirements, what is the potential overall impact of this proposal on children’s rights?

Neutral.

8. If you have identified a positive impact on children’s rights, please describe below how the proposal will protect, respect, and fulfil children’s rights in Scotland.

Not applicable.

9. If a negative impact has been identified please describe it below. Is there a risk this could potentially amount to an incompatibility?

Not applicable.

Mitigation Record

What options have been considered to modify the proposal in order to mitigate a negative impact or potential incompatibility?

Please summarise mitigation actions taken below

Issue or risk identified and relevant UNCRC requirement

Not applicable as no issues or risks identified.

Action Taken/ To Be Taken

Not applicable.

Date action to be taken or was taken

Not applicable.

10. As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all wellbeing indicators, will the proposal contribute to the wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland? (Guidance Section 2.3.2, pages 20-22).

Safe: Not Applicable

Healthy: Not Applicable

Achieving: Not Applicable

Nurtured: Not Applicable

Active: Not Applicable

Respected: Not Applicable

Responsible: Not Applicable

Included: Not Applicable

11. How will you communicate to children and young people the impact that the proposal will have on their rights?

The CRWIA will be published on the legislation.gov.uk website in standard format.

Post Assessment Review and sign-off

12. Planning for the review of impact on children’s rights and wellbeing

No specific impacts of the proposal on children’s rights and wellbeing have been identified.

As previously noted, the statutory guidance refresh was undertaken to support the implementation of The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Integration Joint Boards) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 SSI.

Any potential future impacts on children’s rights and wellbeing will be considered when periodically reviewing the CRWIA that was published for the SSI: The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Integration Joint Boards) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025.

13. Sign off

Policy Lead Signature & Date of Sign Off: Stine Nielsen, 17/7/26

Deputy Director Signature & Date of Sign Off: John Paul Liddle, 07/08/2026

Date CRWIA team first contacted: 14 April 2026