A PACKAGE of savings measures aimed at balancing a £124 million adult social care budget in Dumfries and Galloway has been agreed by health and social care leaders.
Members of the Integration Joint Board (IJB) on Tuesday 24 March approved a savings plan for 2026/27, designed to address a significant funding gap while maintaining essential services for those who rely on support.
The plan includes measures such as helping more people recover at home rather than entering long-term care, reviewing how care packages are delivered, and changes to charges for some non-residential services.
Interim Chief Finance Officer Sean Barrett said the approach reflects the scale of the challenge and the need to act.
Mr Barrett said: “We are facing significant financial pressures, driven by rising demand, increasing complexity of care and national policy commitments.
“This plan sets out how we will respond to those pressures in a way that supports people to remain independent for as long as possible, while ensuring services remain sustainable.”
The delegated adult social care budget for the year ahead is set at £124.2 million. While additional national and local funding has been provided – including support for pay uplifts and free personal care – much of this is committed to specific costs and does not fully offset wider financial pressures.
To help bridge the gap, Dumfries and Galloway Council has made provision for up to £2.8 million of additional support, subject to delivery of the agreed savings plan.
Members heard that progress will be closely monitored throughout the year, with regular updates to ensure spending remains within the agreed limits.
While the focus is on financial recovery, there is also a continued emphasis on reshaping services to better meet future demand- particularly by supporting people earlier and closer to home wherever possible.
Mr Barrett said: “These are challenging decisions, and we recognise the potential impact on people, families and staff.
“However, there is a clear commitment to working together across the system to protect services and ensure we can continue to meet the needs of our communities.”