Moray Integration Joint Board (MIJB) will meet on Thursday 26 March 2026 to agree its budget for the year ahead, setting out how essential health and social care services will be delivered in an increasingly challenging financial climate.
The Board is responsible for children’s, families and adult community health, social work and social care services delivered through Health & Social Care Moray (HSCM).
It has a total budget of £233.8 million for the next financial year to meet the needs of Moray residents. However, it faces a difficult financial position, with demand for services continuing to rise alongside increasing costs of providing care and support.
Areas of significant pressure include provision of high-cost packages of support for people with complex care needs, out-of-area residential placements, support for young people transitioning to adult services, and the ongoing volatility of prescribing (medication) costs.
To balance the budget, the Board must close a £14.7 million gap between the cost of delivering services and the funding it receives, which falls short of what is needed to provide the same level of service.
Chief Officer Judith Proctor said it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify sustainable savings without impacting frontline services.
“This year’s budget is about using the resources we have in the right places for the people who need them most. We need to reduce spending, while continuing to protect support for our most vulnerable residents.
“These pressures are being felt across public services nationally and are expected to continue. It is essential that we balance the budget while continuing to provide high-quality services that meet people’s needs and improve their health and wellbeing.”
MIJB members will be asked to approve a £5.7 million package of savings for 2026/27, alongside previously agreed savings. The remaining £9 million gap will be met through additional financial support from partner organisations, Moray Council and NHS Grampian.
The new savings proposals focus on changing how some services are delivered, reviewing areas of high cost, and reducing reliance on temporary staffing and external placements. Further work will also look at how equipment, contracts and charges are managed.
The £5.7 million of identified savings builds on more than £6 million delivered last year, reflecting sustained efforts to improve efficiency and manage costs over recent years.
Judith added: “We are incredibly grateful to our health and social care teams in Moray, who continue to show dedication and resilience in the face of these pressures. Their commitment to new ways of working, continuous improvement and innovation is making a real difference.”
A final decision on the budget will be made at the MIJB meeting on 26 March.
The papers are available on the Moray Council website here. MIJB meetings are open to the public and also webcast.
