19 August 2026: Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee

A meeting of the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on 19 August 2026 at 9.30am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate Governance

Business

1.    Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence 
Gairm a’ Chlàir agus Leisgeulan

2.    Declarations of Interest/Transparency Statement
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt/Aithris Fhollaiseachd

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.  Any Member making a declaration of interest should provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3.    Recess Powers
Cumhachdan Fosaidh

The Committee is asked to note that the recess powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 25 June 2026 did not require to be exercised in relation to the business of the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee.

4.    Service Achievements    
Coileanaidhean Seirbheis

An update is circulated separately for noting.

5.    Strategic Commissioning Annual Report and Update in Relation to Domestic Abuse-Refuge Services            
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Coimiseanachaidh Ro-innleachdail agus Cunntas às Ùr a Thaobh Seirbheisean Tèarmainn airson Droch Dhìol Teaghlachail

There is circulated Report No HCW/15/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.  

The Committee is invited to:

i.    note and comment on the annual report by the Strategic Commissioning Group;
ii.    agree the continued development of commissioning strategies for legacy contracts, with a focus on achieving best value and service alignment; and 
iii.    note the Highland Commissioning and Contracts Team’s transition to a stand-alone independent structure within the People Cluster and agree to endorse the continuation of the “aligned” arrangement with the shared service for knowledge exchange and good practice.

6.    The Promise Update    
Cunntas air Gealladh

There is circulated Report No HCW/016/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.  

The Committee is invited to:

i.    note progress made in delivering The Promise across the five pillars; 
ii.    note the continued commitment of Highland Council and its partners to delivering the ambitions of The Promise and preparing for implementation of forthcoming legislative requirements;
iii.    note the ongoing workforce, placement sufficiency and financial challenges; and
iv.    agree the priority improvement actions identified for 2026/2027 set out in section 11 of the report.

7.    Update on the Whole Family Wellbeing Programme and Children and Young People’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund    
Cunntas air Prògram Soirbheis an Teaghlaich Iomlain agus Maoin Coimhearsnachd Slàinte Inntinn is Soirbheis Chloinne agus Dhaoine Òga

There is circulated Report No HCW/17/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.  

The Committee is invited to:

i.    note the substantial progress being delivered through the Whole Family Wellbeing Programme and the Children and Young People's Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund;
ii.    note that both programmes are partnership programmes governed through Highland Community Planning Partnership and Integrated Children's Services Planning arrangements rather than through a single agency;
iii.    note the continued focus on transformational change and prevention, consistent with Scottish Government expectations that Whole Family Wellbeing Programme funding should be used to develop, test and embed new models of support rather than replace existing funding streams;
iv.    support the Community Planning Partnership undertaking a review of governance, accountability and delivery arrangements as the Programme moves into its next phase, with recommendations subsequently reported through appropriate partnership and Council governance structures; and
v.    agree a Members’ seminar will be arranged to consider the next phase of the Programme with any recommended revisions being considered by the Community Planning Partnership, with a further report to come to this Committee.

8.    Revenue Budget Monitoring Report – Q1 2026/27 Monitoring and 2025/26 Final Out-turn
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach – Sgrùdadh R1 2026/27 agus Fìor Shuidheachadh Deireannach 2025/26

There is circulated Report No HCW/18/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.  

The Committee is invited to:

i.    note the 2025/2026 final end of year out-turn (Appendix 1a and 1b);
ii.    scrutinise and agree the forecast financial position for 2026/2027 as set out in the report and Appendix 2a, 2b & 3 to the report;
iii.    note the explanations provided for material variances and actions taken and proposed; 
iv.    note the update provided regarding savings delivery (Appendix 4); and
v.    note the numbers of children accommodated by the Council and the nature of those placements in terms of the delivery of the recovery plan (Appendix 5).

9.    Health and Social Care Workforce Planning Annual Progress Report
Aithisg Adhartais Bhliadhnail Planadh Feachd-obrach Slàinte is Cùraim Shòisealta     

There is circulated Report No HCW/19/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.  

The Committee is invited to:

i.    note the Health and Social Care workforce planning progress report and updated action plan;
ii.    note the positive outcomes from the report, including:
a.    redesign of the Service Structure to improve service delivery and create career pathways.;
b.    continued success of trainee programmes for Social Workers (both undergraduate and postgraduate), Health Visitors, and School Nurses, supporting workforce development and succession planning;
c.    the turnover rate of staff has further reduced from 10.5% in 2024/25 to 10.1% in 2025/26;
d.    a new strategic approach to a Service-wide Learning and Development plan; and
iii.    agree the continuing risk highlighted in the report and reflected in the Corporate Risk Register.  This relates to the high vacancy rate that continues with Children’s Services and the impact this is having on service delivery and the wellbeing of the workforce.

10.    Delivery Plan Monitoring and Progress Update – Person Centre Solutions Q1 2026/27    
Sgrùdadh agus Cunntas Adhartais a’ Phlana Lìbhrigidh – Fuasglaidhean Stèidhichte air an Neach R1 2026/27

There is circulated Report No HCW/20/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.  

The Committee is invited to note the:

i.    Delivery Project updates provided in the report;
ii.    change of project title from Residential Care to Children’s Houses; and
iii.    revised format of the report, which includes the use of portfolio board project dashboards from the Performance and Risk Management system (PRMS), with accompanying project narrative sections aligned to the content of these. 

11.    Quarterly Performance Monitoring Report – Q1 2026/27    
Aithisg Sgrùdadh Coileanaidh Ràitheil - R1 2026/27    
    
There is circulated Report No HCW/21/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.  

The Committee is invited to note the:

i.    performance information for the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing; and
ii.    change to Freedom of Information reporting to align with Chief Officer structure. 

12.    Minutes                                                                                                    
Geàrr-chunntas

The following Minutes are circulated for noting:-

i.    Highland Council / NHS Highland Joint Monitoring Committee held on 12 March 2026; and
ii.    Highland Violence Against Women Partnership held on 16 February 2026.